Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a media briefing at the State Department June 10, 2019 in Washington, DC.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that the United States is prepared to negotiate with Iran without preconditions, days after the two countries nearly come to blows over a downed American surveillance drone.
“We’re prepared to negotiate with no preconditions,” Pompeo told reporters. “They know precisely where to find us. I am confident that at the very moment they are ready to engage with us we will be able to begin these conversations. “
The secretary of State said he was traveling to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to make sure that the U.S. is “strategically aligned” with its allies.
President Donald Trump called off military strikes against Iran last week, after the Islamic Republic shot down an unmanned U.S. drone with a surface-to-air missile.
Trump said he was concerned about the loss of life and did not believe military strikes that result in casualties were a proportionate response to Iran’s actions.
The president said Saturday that the U.S. would impose additional sanctions against Iran on Monday. He has also indicated that his administration is willing to negotiate with Iran.
“We could have a deal with them very quickly if they want to do it, it’s up to them,” Trump said. “But if Iran wants to become a wealthy nation again, become a prosperous nation, we’ll call it, let’s make Iran great again.”
Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated in recent weeks. Tehran claimed the downed drone violated its airspace, while Washington says it was operating in international airspace.
The Trump administration has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for global oil supplies.
Iran has strongly denied involvement in the explosions that crippled the tankers.
