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US says no change on Iran policy

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Senior US officials have told their Israeli counterparts that there is no change to US policy on Iran, despite US President Donald Trump’s offer to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

On Monday, Trump caused concern among allies when he said he could meet with the Iranians with “no preconditions,” saying “if they want to meet, I’ll meet anytime they want”.

Trump also told a rally in Tampa, Florida yesterday that: “I have a feeling they’ll be talking to us pretty soon.”

The Iranian President met yesterday for talks with the new British Ambassador to Tehran, Rob Macaire. After the meeting, Rouhani said: “Today we are at a very critical point in history regarding the nuclear deal, and Europe’s transparent measures to compensate for the United States’ unlawful withdrawal from it are very important for the Iranian nation.”

ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency, quoted Rouhani’s political adviser Hamid Aboutalebi saying that for talks to happen, the US needs to rejoin the nuclear deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said yesterday: “The US can only blame itself for pulling out and leaving the table. Threats, sanctions & PR stunts won’t work. Try respect: for Iranians and for international commitments.”

New US sanctions against Iran are set to take effect on 6 August and will include trade in gold and other precious metals, its purchases of metals, dollars, software and its automotive sector.

Yesterday, Iran’s local currency, the rial, was at a record low against the U.S. dollar as its value has almost halved since May.