Tehran: Iran’s president on Monday ruled out negotiations with Washington until it acts “normal,” after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is ready to talk to Tehran without preconditions.
“The party that has left the negotiating table, the party that has trampled the pact must return to a normal” behavior, Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech.
“If the enemy truly realizes that the path it took was wrong, that will be the day to sit at the negotiation table and fix any issue,” the president added.
Tensions have spiked in recent weeks between Tehran and Washington, which last year pulled out of a landmark Iran nuclear accord and imposed tough sanctions on the Islamic republic.
But Washington’s top diplomat appeared to soften the US stance on Sunday, saying “we are prepared to engage in a conversation with no preconditions.”
Washington is “certainly prepared to have (a) conversation when the Iranians will prove they are behaving as a normal nation,” Pompeo said in Switzerland, which represents Washington’s interests in Iran in the absence of bilateral relations.
Pompeo however gave no indication that lifting sanctions would be on the table.
On Saturday, Rouhani insisted that Iran would not be “bullied” into talks with the United States, saying “total respect” was needed for negotiations to take place.
Iran president rules out talks until US acts ‘normal’
Iran president rules out talks until US acts ‘normal’
- Iranian president said the day US realizes their mistake is the day they will sit for talks
- Rouhani earlier said Iran will not be “bullied” into talks with US
Denmark supports Palestinian refugees’ UN agency with over $16m
- ‘UNRWA is an indispensable lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza & the region,’ the Danish foreign minister said
- In 2023, Denmark and UNRWA signed a 5-year support agreement totaling $75.2m between 2023 and 2027
LONDON: Denmark announced on Tuesday the disbursement of all planned funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, amounting to over €14 million ($16.54 million) for 2026.
“UNRWA is an indispensable lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza & the region,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen wrote on X.
He added: “Continued support is essential especially with UNRWA under intense pressure. Urge more to follow.”
In 2023, Denmark and UNRWA signed a five-year support agreement totaling $75.2 million between 2023 and 2027, with an annual contribution of around $15.2 million (DKK 105 million).
The funding comes after Israeli authorities recently demolished UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem and stormed its premises in the occupied West Bank on several occasions. Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and Spain condemned the demolition.
Israeli forces bombed and destroyed several UNRWA buildings in the Gaza Strip, accusing the agency of employing Hamas members involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. UNRWA stated that Israel has not provided evidence for its accusations, which have endangered UNRWA staff and harmed the organization’s reputation.
The Danish contribution will support UNRWA’s essential services for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The agency employs 12,000 people in the Palestinian territories, and its health care, education, and social protection services are vital to Palestinians.
