Lead
US President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to end negotiations with Iran and would keep the US naval blockade in place for as long as needed, according to a journalist with NBC News. The comments come as Iranian officials accuse Washington of showing no genuine interest in talks, and as Tehran reportedly halts communication with the United States in protest over Israeli actions in Lebanon.
Coverage comparison
Two reports from the Russian state news agency TASS provide the basis for this story. The first, dated May 30, centres on remarks by Mohsen Rezaee, a military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, who said that by continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands, President Trump had demonstrated he was not interested in negotiations. The second, dated June 1, focuses on Trump's own statements, relayed by NBC News journalist Garrett Haake, in which the US president said he was "fine" with terminating talks and was ready to keep the blockade indefinitely.
The two articles offer contrasting emphases. The first leads with Rezaee's criticism, framing Trump's actions as proof of his unwillingness to negotiate. The second leads with Trump's willingness to break off talks, presenting the continuation of the blockade as a deliberate policy, with Trump quoted as saying, "Blockade is a piece of steel." While the first piece highlights Iran's perspective, the second includes Trump's own words and a journalist's account, giving it a more neutral tone.
Key claims
The central claim, made by Mohsen Rezaee, is that Trump is not interested in negotiations with Tehran. Rezaee stated that by continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands, the US president has "once again proven that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives."
A separate claim, reported by The New York Times and cited in the first TASS article, is that Trump has not yet made a decision regarding a possible new agreement with Iran, despite the US president saying on Friday that most provisions of a deal had already been agreed upon.
The second TASS article reports that Trump, through NBC News's Garrett Haake, said he had not heard from Iran regarding reports that Tehran was suspending talks, but that if true, it would be acceptable. Trump was quoted as saying, "It doesn't mean we're going to go and start dropping bombs all over there. We'll just go silent. We'll keep the blockade." He also said he could wait as long as Tehran needed, adding that "they are losing a fortune."
Additionally, the second article reports, citing Iran's Tasnim news agency, that Tehran has stopped exchanging messages with Washington in protest against Israel's escalation in Lebanon. The article also states that the US and Iran had been exchanging messages on a draft agreement that would extend the ceasefire and resume navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Perspectives
The material presents two distinct viewpoints. From the Iranian side, Mohsen Rezaee, a military adviser to the supreme leader, argues that Trump's continued blockade and excessive demands show a lack of interest in negotiation. From the US side, President Trump expresses readiness to end talks and maintain the blockade, while saying this does not mean a resumption of hostilities. These perspectives are directly quoted or reported from named officials and journalists in the TASS articles.