Earlier, the US announced the deployment of 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East to counter “credible threats” from Iran in a move denounced by Tehran on Saturday as “a threat to international peace”.
Speaking during the course of an official visit to Japan, US President Donald Trump on Monday did not exclude the possibility of negotiations with Iran, The Times of Israel reported.
“I do believe that Iran would like to talk, and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also,” Trump said.
“We'll see what happens, but I know for a fact that the Prime Minister [Abe] is very close with the leadership of Iran… nobody wants to see terrible things happen, especially me.”
The US president made the statement while meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is reportedly considering visiting Tehran.
A report by Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, citing government sources, said the US president supported Abe's idea and suggested the visit happen soon.
Responding to the latest US moves to build up forces in the region, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that the country will defend itself against any “war efforts”.
“We will defend against any war efforts against Iran, whether it be an economic war or a military one, and we will face these efforts with strength,” Zarif said during a joint conference with Iraqi counterpart Mohammed al-Hakim.
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