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Report from embassy in Washington tells Trump negotiating with 'certain' Iranian leadership — PH top diplomat

Philippines | National

Report from embassy in Washington tells Trump negotiating with 'certain' Iranian leadership — PH top diplomat

By Joseph Pedrajas

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she received reports from Washington that US President Donald Trump was negotiating with Iranian leaders, which might not be known among the bureaucracy.

"We're looking at that. And we're hoping that, if ever there's a deal, let it be because it's really affecting globally, the whole world," the top diplomat of the Philippines, the US' treaty ally, said at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum on Wednesday, March 25.

Lazaro did not expound further on such information, but she said the Philippines is seeing "reports from our embassy in Washington, D.C. that President Trump himself was the one discussing, negotiating with certain Iranian leadership."

"Siguro 'di lang alam ng buong bureaucracy ng Iran sino kausap (Maybe the Iranian bureaucracy with whom Trump was talking to)," Lazaro said.

"That for us is, I think, for all of us is very important," she added.

On Tuesday, March 24, President Trump, in a statement posted on his Truth Social account, said Washington and Tehran "have had...very good and productive conversations" to end hostilities in the Middle East. He consequently ordered the five-day postponement of US strikes on Iran.

An Iranian military spokesman said Trump was "talking to himself," denying the ongoing talks.

But on Thursday, March 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there have been message exchanges between the US and Iran via mediated talks in Pakistan, but Tehran refused to accept the 15-point-plan by the US to end the war.

Related Tags

DFA Ma. Theresa Lazaro Middle East conflict Donald Trump

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