Al-Monitor - �It�s good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I�ll meet,� US President Donald Trump said at a press briefing July 30. Only hours later, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared on CNBC, where he set conditions for such talks, saying, �We've�said this before. � If the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to make fundamental changes � then the president said he�s prepared to sit down and have the conversation with them.�


In Iran, Trump�s offer was mostly received with either caution or doubt. Among the first to react was Hamid Aboutalebi, a top adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. �Respect for the Iranian nation, reducing hostilities and a US return to the nuclear deal could pave the existing bumpy road. � The nuclear deal was a fruit of commitment to dialogue [and this] has to be accepted,��he posted on Twitter.

Late July 31, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard�Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Ali Jafari, made clear his dismissal of the move in a public statement. �Mr. Trump! Iran is not North Korea to accept your offer for a meeting,� Jafari said. "You will take to the grave your wish that officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran will ask for a meeting with you or [for our officials] to obtain permission to meet with you from their nation. You will never see this day." He added, �Even US presidents after you will not see that day.�

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