Trump: The U.S. is “always open” to direct talks with Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the United States is “always open” to direct talks with Iran, as Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump also commented on the withdrawal of American B-1 bombers from the British base RAF Fairford, saying that behind the decision stood “a specific threat” that pushed the U.S. forces to pull the aircraft back.

The statements come after the talks in Islamabad on the U.S.–Iran war failed over the weekend, while Iran insists that no negotiations have yet begun; Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the news of talks “fake news” used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.

Iran’s chief negotiator also declared today that the U.S. “failed” to achieve its military objectives against Iran, deepening the gap between the sides.