The United States is in no hurry to attack Iran because of Tehran's developing nuclear program, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House.
„I wouldn't say I've ruled out that option. I'm in no hurry to do it because I believe that Iran has a chance to create a great country and live happily without deaths. And I would like to see that. That's the first option. If the second option happens, I think it would be very bad for Iran. And I think Iran wants to talk. It would be very good for them if they did,“ the head of state emphasized.
„I know the Iranian people. They are a wonderful people. They have always been very smart, very energetic, very successful, and I don't want to do anything that would hurt anyone. I really don't. But Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. It's as simple as that. We don't want to take away their industry.
On April 12, indirect talks were held in Muscat between representatives of the United States and Iran, mediated by Oman, to resolve the situation surrounding the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and the American delegation was led by the President's special envoy, Stephen Witkoff. The second round of talks was initially expected to take place on Saturday in Oman. Later, the Iranian side announced that the venue for the talks would be determined by a mediator. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Thursday that the next round of talks will be held on April 19 in Rome.
The talks in Oman marked the first high-level contacts between officials from the two countries since 2022. They are aimed at resolving long-standing disputes over Iran's nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly stated that he is ready to use force if the Islamic Republic refuses to accept the deal.
Meanwhile, it became clear that Iran has filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice against the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine against the decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to shoot down the Ukrainian plane.
According to the court's press release, four countries had previously initiated proceedings at the ICAO regarding the interpretation and application of the Chicago Convention in connection with the mistaken downing of a Ukrainian civilian plane by the Iranian military on January 8, 2020. In March, the ICAO Council rejected Iran's preliminary objections to its jurisdiction. Iran's case, filed at the UN court, is an appeal of that decision.
Details of the ICAO case are not provided, but Iran is seeking recognition from the International Court of Justice that the International Civil Aviation Organization lacks the jurisdiction to conduct the procedure, that the voting on the preliminary objections was conducted with irregularities, and that the organization's decision is invalid.
Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran Airport to Kiev on January 8, 2020. Among the 176 dead were citizens of Iran, Ukraine, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Afghanistan. Shortly thereafter, the Iranian military announced that it had shot down the Boeing flying near a military facility by mistake, mistaking the plane for a "hostile target". Tehran has submitted to Kiev a draft technical report on the causes of the crash.