Neither US nor Iran are ready for making a deal - Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that he believes it is “too soon to even think about” entering into any deal with Iran after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran..

Trump tweeted that he “very much” appreciates Abe’s meeting with Khamenei on Thursday, but said he still feels it is not the time to be making a deal.

“They are not ready, and neither are we!” his tweet said.

Earlier, following a meeting with Abe, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would "never initiate war" but would give a "crushing response" to any aggression committed against it.

Rouhani said Tehran remains committed to the 2015 nuclear deal, saying it is "important for the security of the region and the world." The Trump administration tore up the deal last year, claiming that  Iran was not abiding by its terms, despite UN assurances that it had not been violated.

Though military tension with Iran has risen in recent weeks, Trump has paid lip service to the idea of negotiations with Tehran. Last month the US president told the Iranians to “call me” and talk about lifting economic sanctions and making a “fair deal.” Though his government has largely stood by its line that it does not seek war with Washington, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded to Trump’s “call me” by saying there is “no possibility for negotiations,” and calling the US a “bully.”

Trump’s latest statement on Iran comes hours after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman. Though nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Iran, based on non-specific “intelligence.”

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