Iran spokesperson: US stuck in 'quagmire'

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says the United States is trapped in a quagmire it created.

Esmaeil Baghaei spoke at a news conference on Monday as the US has paused attacks on Iran after 13 straight days of strikes.

The spokesperson said the US had claimed it would make Iran collapse in several days.

On future negotiations, Baghaei said what is fundamental for Iran is its national interests.

He also said talks with Oman on the management of the Strait of Hormuz have been continuing, and stressed that it will be determined through discussions between the two countries.

On Sunday, a US news outlet reported that the top US military commander in the Middle East recommended halting the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios reported that the commander made the recommendation to the Pentagon, the joint chiefs and the White House. The report said, "Absent a decision to return to major combat operations, he stressed there was no point in continuing the bombing campaign of the previous two weeks."

Axios said the recommendation by the commander together with other advisers affected President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to pause the US strikes.