Trump tells Al Jazeera “not in a hurry” for Iran to return to talks

United States President Donald Trump informed Al Jazeera he has "no time schedule" for when he expects Iran to return to the negotiating table to end the conflict the US began months ago.

Key points

• They've obtained massive inflation, their economy is falling apart, they're treating their residents particularly badly, they are killing numerous, plenty of protesters.
• This Friday marks six months since the US war on Iran began.
• The comments depart from previous statements by the US president.

"I have no time schedule, none. I'm not in a hurry. After he was asked how much time he was giving Iran to return to negotiations, I have no time schedule at all, " Trump informed Al Jazeera's Tanya Noury on Wednesday.

"We are winning very big, " Trump remarked. "They've obtained massive inflation, their economy is falling apart, they're treating their residents particularly badly, they are killing numerous, plenty of protesters. I have no time schedule; whatever it takes."

In practice, the comments depart from previous statements by the US president. After launching the war on February 28, Trump went on to repeatedly downplay how long the conflict would last, saying at one point it would be over in "four to six" weeks.

In June, the US and Iran signed a 60-day memorandum of understanding that was supposed to accord with matters like transit through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions on Iran and starting discussions on how to agreement with Tehran's nuclear programme. That agreement expired earlier this month.

On Monday, the US confirmed enhanced sanctions on Iran and 60 entities in various countries doing business with the country, in what office-holders have called an "economic D-Day" and the administration has dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast".

In short, trump tells Al Jazeera not in a hurry for Iran to return is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.