Iran fully prepared for any possible scenario in its standoff with US: official

A senior Iranian official said on Sunday that Iran is fully prepared for any possible scenario in its ongoing standoff with the United States, whether it leads to renewed negotiations or direct conflicts.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that the United States must accept Iran's conditions in order to reach an agreement.

Rezaei described the current situation as highly uncertain, with both a war and a potential deal as possible outcomes.

He said that all parties generally believe that after Iran's resistance and eventual victory, the U.S. strategic calculations have already changed, and the United States has no choice but to reach an agreement with Iran and must accept Iran's conditions.

Rezaei emphasized that the United States must yield diplomatically or under missile deterrence, and Iran is fully prepared for any possible scenario.

He also believed that there is a higher likelihood of a war than successful negotiations, and Iran must remain vigilant and ready.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei pointed to the shifting and contradictory U.S. positions as the main obstacle in negotiations.

He insisted that the United States must recognize Iran's rights, and Iran did not intend to make any concessions.

Baghaei also reiterated that the United States should end sanctions and change its approach, warning that Iran would respond forcefully to any breaches of a ceasefire or attacks.

Meanwhile, in an NBC interview on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran are "very close" to a deal.

He vowed to eliminate Iran's potential to build nuclear weapons, and supervise and destruct Iran's stock of highly enriched uranium.

Trump said a few differences remain while Iran has agreed not to possess nuclear weapons, but the United States wants stricter guarantees against any development or acquisition of nuclear capability of Iran.

Trump also ruled out unfreezing Iranian assets or lifting sanctions before a deal is reached, saying any future relief would depend on Iran's actions.

He warned that if talks fail, the United States would continue military actions and act independently to manage nuclear materials.

The Hukou Waterfall on China's Yellow River has since earlier this month become what appears to be a two-tone river section where separate surging streams of clear and muddy waters are flowing down side by side, creating a stunning view.

The "half-clear and half-turbid" scenery draws crowds of visitors to the waterfall, which is located on the border between Jixian County of north China's Shanxi Province and Yichuan County of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The landscape was formed amid combined effects of local hydrological environment and weather conditions including heavy rainfall in the upper reaches.

The Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China and the largest on the legendary Yellow River.