US-Iran talks stall as Trump rules out Congress approval

[0:00] And Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna is live for us now at the White House. [0:03] So, Mike, the president says he's not happy with the offer from Iran. [0:07] And as Alan was reporting, no prospect for further talks. [0:10] So are we just effectively in a stalemate here? [0:15] Well, it is a state of limbo. [0:16] President Trump continuing to insist that his strategy of squeezing the Iranians financially is going to work. [0:23] The blockade of the Strait of Hamuz, the president claims, is costing the Iranians millions of dollars every day. [0:30] He also insists that the ongoing sanctions against individuals and entities within Iran are also having an economic effect. [0:39] So President Trump appears to be ready to wait this out, convinced that the economic pressure he's putting on Iran [0:47] will eventually bring them to the table to discuss a deal on the terms that he wants to discuss. [0:54] That economic pressure, Mike, is being felt all over the world, though, isn't it? [0:58] And the U.S. is now warning companies that they should not pay tolls to transit the Strait of Hormuz. [1:04] That, of course, is something the administration is concerned would pay in to Iran's coffers. [1:09] What action could the administration take here to stop that from happening? [1:14] Well, the Treasury Department has announced that it will impose sanctions against entities and individuals [1:20] who do pay Iranian tolls to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. [1:24] This is a very real threat. At the same time, as well, the State Department has announced what it calls a new construct, [1:33] a maritime freedom construct, it is called. [1:36] Now, this will be controlled by the central command, CENTCOM, [1:39] and it seems to be an alliance of ships who agree to U.S. terms to use the Strait of Hormuz. [1:46] It would appear that they will be escorted by U.S. Navy vessels, but they would be vetted by U.S. authorities [1:54] before allowing to go through, and obviously no tolls would be paid. [1:58] It's a complicated type scenario, but it is a way the U.S. is attempting to reconcile its ongoing blockade [2:07] of the Strait of Hormuz, and at the same time, still getting the flow of oil through that strait, [2:13] which is having such a massive economic impact in its absence. [2:17] Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna reporting live for us from the White House. Thank you, Mike. [2:21] Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mosheba Khamenei has issued a May Day statement, [2:27] saying Iran has demonstrated its remarkable military capabilities to the world. [2:32] It also says Iran must disappoint and defeat its enemies, economically and culturally. [2:38] Khamenei has not been seen since he succeeded his father as Supreme Leader. [2:43] Al Jazeera's Al-Migdad Al-Rouhaid reports from Tehran. [2:46] Iranian officials and different leadership here, level of leadership here, [2:53] they are saying that we are at the same position and the same stance regarding the negotiation with [3:00] the United States, and they are stating clearly that we have red lines. And if we speak about [3:06] these red lines and the conditions to move forward with the negotiation, they are saying that we [3:11] demand a declared end to this war in all fronts. And also, they are linking everything with the [3:18] maritime issue. We know that the Strait of Hormuz, there's a new situation in the Strait of Hormuz. [3:25] And also, they are saying that this is a new condition, a new era in the Strait of Hormuz. [3:30] They are trying to say that we consolidate our presence there and we have a sovereignty and right [3:36] to control this waterway, most strategic waterway, actually. And also, they are demanding guarantees [3:43] for ending the war. They are saying that there is no trust between them and the United States, [3:49] and there is a deep mistrust over the past negotiations. And they are saying that we actually [3:56] have been attacked for more than, in less than a year, for two times. So the Iranian officials, [4:06] especially when it comes to diplomat and the top diplomat, Abbas Araqli, conveying his message [4:11] to the counterparts in the region, starting from Pakistan, Oman, and also to Russia. And right [4:19] now, he was engaging with the different counterparts in the region. So the message from the Iranian [4:26] official have been the same, has been the same in a stance, same sympositions and linking everything [4:32] to move forward with easing the pressure from the United States and lifting the blockade from the [4:38] Iranian ports. And also, they are saying, let's separate the approach for solving this problem [4:45] and let the nuclear file and other sticking point later on, and let's negotiate with the consequences [4:53] of war. And this, it seems like Donald Trump is not happy with this deal. And they are trying to pushing [5:01] them and to make another pressure on the Iranian. But they are saying we are open to negotiate. And at the [5:08] same time, we are, we have a red line, we have a condition. Al-Miqdad al-Ruhid, Iranian capital, Tehran.