Trump Rules Out Immediate Talks with Iran as Oil Prices Soar

Amid the stalemate in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has said that no timeline has been given to Iran to return to the negotiating table with the US. He said that he is in no hurry to resume talks. The price of oil in the international market rose to $89 per barrel in view of the impact on oil supplies as the stalemate persists. The market's expectation of normalization of oil supplies from the Middle East was considered a major reason for the price increase. Meanwhile, the Qatari prime minister and foreign minister arrived in Iran on Thursday and discussed the creation of a temporary shipping corridor. After Trump's statement, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt also clarified that no talks are currently taking place between the US and Iran. According to Reuters, she told Fox News that talks will not begin until the president is confident that Iran is ready to negotiate in a meaningful way. According to her, no such indication has been received from Iran so far. According to IANS, the Qatari foreign ministry is building a temporary shipping corridor.