US House Minority Leader: Trump Lied about Iran

JAKARTA - The leader of the United States House of Representatives Minority, Hakeem Jeffries, stated that US President Donald Trump had lied about Iran.

Speaking after a briefing for senior members of Congress with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jeffries referred to Trump's earlier claim that last year's attack "completely and totally destroyed" Iran's nuclear capabilities.

"It's clear that he (Trump) has lied to the American people, or he is lying now. I plan to urge them in relation to the claims made by Donald Trump himself about Iran's nuclear program and how urgent the current situation is," Jeffries said, quoted by IRNA-OANA, Thursday, February 26.

Ahead of President Trump's annual State of the Union address, on Tuesday night local time, Secretary of State Rubio convened a meeting with House and Senate leaders and senior committee members of both intelligence committees, also known as the "Gang of Eight".

"Gang of Eight" refers to eight senior US congressional officials who, by law, are briefed on the latest and most sensitive intelligence and security information.

Following the 12-day war involving the US and Israel against Iranian nuclear facilities, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington resumed, despite threats and contradictory statements from the US.

The first round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington was held in Muscat on February 6.

The Iranian and American negotiating teams exchanged views through Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

Furthermore, the second round took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17 and ended after about 3 hours and 30 minutes of intensive diplomatic consultations.

Both meetings, like the previous round, were held indirectly with the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman.

Meanwhile, the next round of talks is planned to be held on Thursday, with the location also in Geneva.