Iran demands the U.S. lift its blockade and sanctions before it will even talk, after Rubio calls its terms 'outrageous'

Iran on Monday defended its offer to restart talks with the United States in as little as two days, but only if Washington first meets its conditions, The Jerusalem Post reports, citing Reuters.

"Is it unreasonable that Iran demands that US illegal sanctions and its naval blockade must be lifted before negotiations start and that the war should end on all fronts?" Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told his weekly press conference, responding to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called some of Iran's demands "outrageous and ridiculous."

The offer shortens an earlier seven-day timeline but keeps the same terms: the U.S. halts hostilities, lifts the blockade and waives sanctions before any talks.

Baghaei also dismissed the U.S. military task force set up to choke off Iran's land trade as a "diversion" after the Republican midterm losses, and said U.S. pressure on Iraq to close most of its border with Iran should not hurt Tehran's ties with Baghdad.

Before leaving for a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in France, Rubio said: "I have no progress to report." He said President Trump still prefers a diplomatic solution, but Iran's demands remain the main obstacle, and the U.S. will act if American forces or shipping in the region come under threat.

President Trump meets Qatar's prime minister at the White House at noon today.