Not in a hurry for Iran to return to talks, says Trump

Donald Trump, the United States President, expressed on Wednesday that he is not eager for Iran to resume talks aimed at ending the conflict initiated by the US. Speaking to Al Jazeera's Tanya Noury, Trump stated, "I have no time schedule, none. I’m not in a hurry. I have no time schedule at all." He emphasized that the US is experiencing significant success, citing Iran's high inflation, collapsing economy, and oppressive treatment of its citizens.

Trump was asked whether economic measures were more effective than military strikes, to which he replied, "I think they are both effective." The conflict between the US and Iran has been ongoing for six months, since February 28. This week also marks the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the two countries, which was supposed to address issues like the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions on Iran, and starting talks on dealing with Tehran's nuclear program.

The most recent sanctions imposed by the US, labeled as an "economic D-Day" by officials, took effect on Monday. These sanctions target 60 entities in various countries that do business with Iran. In response, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the new sanctions a threat to international law and the United Nations charter.

It stated that "the issue is no longer limited to Iran" and that "no honorable state that values its sovereignty and national interests will accept the normalization of such gross lawlessness and systematic bullying."

The economic measures, including the sanctions, have already negatively impacted the lives of ordinary Iranians. The Iranian rial has plummeted to a record low against the US dollar, and the prices of essential goods have increased dramatically. For example, before the war, 2 million rials could purchase about four kilogrammes of tomatoes, half a kilo of chicken, and less than a litre of cooking oil.

Today, the same amount of rials buys roughly half as much, with the average price of tomatoes up by 71 percent, chicken by 74 percent, and cooking oil by 177 percent.