Trump says the U.S. is not talking with Iran as economic war in focus

President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the United States is not currently engaging in dialogue with Iran as Washington concentrates on economically sanctioning Tehran. The aim is to penalize nations that conduct business with the Islamic Republic. At a press conference in the Oval Office, President Trump asserted, "We don’t want to speak to them.

We’re not looking to meet or anything." Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the U.S. economic campaign would persist until Iran agrees to meaningful negotiations. She explained, "Now we have Operation Economic Outcast to destroy their economy." She added, "No negotiations are happening right now, and this will continue until the president feels that maybe they come to the table in a meaningful way...

He of course continues to retain all options on the table." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned countries on Monday to sever financial ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions as part of what was labeled as "Economic D-Day." However, the Treasury Department refrained from implementing penalties. When questioned on Thursday about punishing Russia for continuing to engage with Iran, Trump responded, "It depends.

So far, I think Russia’s behaved quite well, having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and you have to understand: for everything they do, we do also. You know, somebody was saying about China. What about China? We hear they’re spying. We spy on them too." He was then asked if he would sanction Chinese banks for dealing with Iran, to which Trump replied, "Who said I’m not?

You don’t know if I’m doing it... I don’t have to announce everything, do I?" In another development, Qatar's prime minister visited Tehran on Thursday to attempt to resume diplomacy following the U.S. and Iran's exchange of accusations over Washington's pledge to intensify economic pressure, which one Iranian official described as "all-out economic war."