Trump assures that “nothing happens” if Iran suspends talks to end hostilities

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, denied this Monday that he had been informed about the suspension of talks by Iran, a decision made in response to Israel’s continued bombing of Lebanon, and has assured that, if so, “nothing happens.”

“It is logical, because they are better negotiators than combatants. But they have not informed us of this,” he said in a telephone interview with the American television network NBC News.

The tenant of the White House has considered that the parties have “talked too much”, so “keeping silence would be very good”, although he then assured that this lack of communication “does not mean that we are going to go there and start throwing bombs everywhere.”

The US president has defended the blockade of Iranian ports, ensuring that it is “a piece of steel.” “We will maintain the blockade,” he assured, before reiterating that he can “wait as long as (the Iranian authorities) want” to give his arm in the negotiation. “They are losing a fortune,” he declared.

His words come hours after it emerged that Tehran has suspended talks with Washington for the cessation of hostilities, in response to the continuous attacks by the Israeli Army against Lebanon, where more than 3,400 people have already died since the last offensive that began on March 2, and after this Monday the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the troops to launch new bombings against the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The Iranian negotiating team has made the decision to paralyze “the dialogue and the exchange of messages through intermediaries” with the US Government, alleging that the agreed ceasefire agreement includes Lebanese territory and, therefore, that Israel’s attacks against the neighboring country have violated the truce, as reported by the official Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Thus, the Iranian authorities have indicated that no more talks will be held until the cessation of the operations of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against Lebanon – also against the Gaza Strip – and the “total” withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied areas in this country is guaranteed, Tasnim added.

On the other hand, they are considering “completely” blocking the Strait of Hormuz and “activating” other fronts, including the Bab al Mandeb Strait – which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a strategic point for maritime transport, as it channels traffic towards the Suez Canal – also in retaliation.