US accuses Iran of failing to negotiate ‘in good faith’

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Mike Waltz said that the US had rejected Iran’s proposal to end the war because Iranian negotiators were “asking for everything up front.”

Mr Waltz told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that Iran had asked for relief “from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place” as part of an economic blockade on Iran. 

The blockade is aimed at putting pressure on Iran to stop its attacks ‌on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said: “They were asking for everything up front with a promise that they would then talk. 

“The president [Donald Trump] is just not confident that the Iranians are coming in good faith and that we will truly negotiate the end of their nuclear programme.”

The remarks were made following at least three attacks launched by the US against Iran while active negotiations were taking place between the two sides. 

Mr Trump claimed on Saturday that the Iranians were pushing for a deal “⁠to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly.”

But in an interview with Axios on Sunday, Mr Trump said that he still expected talks with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz to resume over the coming days.

On NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that his country is prepared to resume fighting with the US but has not yet abandoned diplomacy after Mr Trump rejected Iran’s peace proposal.

He said: “We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed, even if it comes to a doomsday war.

“At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose.”

In an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “Iran is not seeking war, but will ​defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks,” saying that it had already agreed that “we’re not supposed to develop nuclear weapons.”

On CNN Mr Waltz also addressed recent accusations that China had assisted Iran in missile targeting of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on US military bases in the region.

Mr Waltz said Mr Trump had raised the issue with China’s president, Xi Jinping, during the latter’s recent state visit to the US. 

Mr Trump had also done so “multiple times” previously, including during his visit to China in May, according to Mr Waltz.