Trump: If We Don't Get Border Security, I Would Shut Down Gov't

Previously, addressing the issue, the US President stated that his Border Security program, which included construction of the Wall on the Mexican border, must be approved by the US Congress in order to create a new system of immigration.

"If we don’t get border security after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown," Trump told reporters

These words echo his previous statements on the issue, including the Sunday tweet, where he tried to convince the opposition to follow his lead and vote for his plan, also considering a possibility of the government shutdown.

"I would be willing to 'shut down' government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!" He tweeted. "Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT," adding that the Americans need "great people" coming into the country.

The statements were aimed to put pressure on the opposition in the Congress, as Trump's immigration bill supported by conservative Republicans failed to pass the House of Representatives last week. It included appropriating $25 billion for the wall along the border with Mexico, termination of the diversity visa lottery and more harsh detention rules for the undocumented migrants.

READ MORE: John McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump From Exiting NATO Without Senate's Consent

The government has already shut down twice this year — first over a failed deal for the migrants brought to the US illegally as kids, knwon as "dreamers," and the second — over a funding bill.

Meeting with Iranians

The US Presdent also expressed readiness to speak with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

"No preconditions, no, they want to meet, I'll meet. Anytime they want. Anytime they want. It's good for the country, good for them, good for us, and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I'll meet," Trump told reporters.

Earlier in the day Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed that the US "needs to quit its addiction to sanctions", adding that his country would not comply to the pressure of Washingtion.

READ MORE: Iran's Chief of Staff Accuses US of Seeking to Diminish Security in Middle East

Tensions between two countries escalated in May, when Trump announced he would re-impose sanctions against Iran and withdraw from the nuclear deal. Iranian leadership repeatedly stated that after such move the US can not be trusted and refused to start new talks, while the other countries participating in the nuclear agreement refused to follow the decision of the US President and confirmed their commitment to the deal with Tehran.

Sanctions on Russia

Addressing the relations with Moscow Trump was more strict.

"The sanctions on Russia will remain as is," he stated.

READ MORE: 'Sanctions Ruin My Academic Career' — Ex-US Envoy to Russia

The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, in turn, noted that Rome was ready to having a dialogue with Moscow but added it was impossible to lift anti-Russian sanctions immediately.

"We are open to dialogue with Russia. We believe that Russia plays a fundamental role in all international geopolitical crises," Conte said. "As far as the sanctions system is concerned… the system stemming from the Minsk agreements… is connected to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, so it is clear that it is unthinkable today to lift overnight those sanctions."