Trump offers to meet Iran president Rouhani
US President Donald Trump has offered to meet Iran leader President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the tariffs imposed by America on the country and its nuclear activities.
In a press conference in the White House alongside Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday, Donald Trump said he would meet Iran's leaders with "no preconditions" and at "any time they want", adding he "believes in meetings".
Trump and Rouhani recently traded hostile warnings after the US dropped out of the 2015 nuclear deal that halted Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for lifting international sanctions.
Trump said on Twitter a week ago that the US would not tolerate Iran's "DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH", -a response to a warning that Iran’s leader made to Trump where he said "war with Iran is the mother of all wars" but also made room for peace.
The letter came as the US is preparing to re-impose sanctions on Iran, despite objections from the other members of the deal, as it sees Iran as a destabilising force in the Middle East.
The sanctions could deeply affect Iran's oil market since it's one of the world’s largest producer with exports worth billions of dollars each year. It is already feeling economic pressures.
In response to the offer, adviser to Rouhani, Hamid Aboutalebi said via Twitter that "returning to the nuclear deal" and "respecting the Iranian nation's rights" would lead to talks.
A FRESH HEADACHE FOR REPUBLICANS
At the Monday press conference, Trump also threatened the US Congress with a shut down of the US government if it fails to provide extra money for border security.
"I would have no problem doing a shutdown," the president said. "It's time we had border security."
Federal government funding expires at the end of September and a shutdown would be the third in this administration, an embarrassment Republicans cannot afford to suffer right before the midterm elections.
The President tweeted on 29 July saying: "I would be willing to "shut down" government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!"