The United States has reiterated that Washington is open to diplomacy with Tehran as the US-Israel war on Iran drags on – and as US President Donald Trump renews his threats to destroy the country’s civilian infrastructure.US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Al Jazeera in a TV interview on Thursday that Trump pursued talks with Iran before the war, but accused Iran of continuing to pursue a nuclear weapon.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list“The president is always open to diplomacy, but he’s also been clear we will see his objectives be fulfilled here,” Pigott said.Trump addressed the nation about Iran late on Wednesday, echoing his past statements that the US is winning the war. But he did not provide details on how the conflict would end. Trump also did not present any plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure by Tehran has sent energy prices soaring.The US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, days after a round of negotiations in Geneva that Omani mediators and Iranian officials described as positive.Last year, Israel also attacked Iran amid ongoing nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. That war saw the US bomb Iran’s three main nuclear facilities in an operation that the White House dubbed “Midnight Hammer”.“The president always prefers diplomacy,” Pigott said.“That’s why the argument and ‘the how we got here’ was so important from the president’s speech yesterday, describing how he pursued diplomacy before Operation Midnight Hammer.”Pigott added that after the June …
