Iran’s Khamenei Responds to Trump’s Negotiation Appeals, Dismisses Bullying Tactics
Iran’s Khamenei criticizes Trump’s negotiation tactics, asserting they aim at dominance. Despite Trump’s offer for dialogue, Iran has yet to receive communication and rejects negotiations under pressure. Khamenei questions the commitment of Western powers to the JCPOA, and Iran escalates uranium enrichment while asserting the peaceful intentions of its nuclear program.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has sharply criticized the perceived bullying tactics of foreign powers following recent comments made by former President Donald Trump. Khamenei asserted that the negotiations initiated by Trump were not genuinely aimed at resolving issues but rather serving as a method of dominance. On Friday, Trump indicated he had contacted Khamenei, urging new discussions related to Iran’s nuclear program while threatening military action should Iran refuse to comply.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, clarified that the Iranian government had not yet received any communication from President Trump by Saturday. He emphasized that Iran does not intend to engage in negotiations while under the pressure of maximum sanctions. This approach stems from Trump’s reinstatement of strict sanctions against Iran upon assuming office again in January after withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in his previous term.
The 2015 JCPOA was a pivotal agreement between Iran and major powers, which temporarily lifted sanctions in exchange for limitations on Iran’s nuclear activities. However, Khamenei condemned the European signatories—Britain, France, and Germany—for stating that Iran has not fulfilled its commitments under the deal. He challenged them by questioning whether they had met their own commitments.
Amid rising tensions, Iran has notably increased uranium enrichment beyond the JCPOA limits. Current U.S. estimates suggest that Iran could manufacture a nuclear weapon within weeks if it decided to do so. Despite this, Iran has consistently denied ambitions to develop nuclear arms, underscoring the peaceful objectives behind its nuclear program supported by a fatwa from Khamenei prohibiting such developments.
Khamenei also reiterated his stance against negotiations with the U.S., labeling them as unwise, and criticized the U.S. for having “ruined, violated, and torn up” the 2015 agreement. His firm refusal to engage with Trump persists, as he denoted Trump as unworthy of dialogue.
In summary, the ongoing diplomatic confrontation between Iran and the United States continues to evolve, marked by heightened rhetoric from Khamenei and a defiant Iranian stance against perceived external pressures and sanctions. As diplomatic avenues seem increasingly narrow, Iran’s nuclear activity will remain a focal point of international concern and negotiation efforts.
In conclusion, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vehemently rejected recent U.S. demands for negotiations regarding its nuclear program, citing foreign powers’ bullying tactics. He criticized Trump’s ultimatum and called into question the West’s commitment to the JCPOA agreement. As tensions escalate with increased uranium enrichment, the landscape of international diplomacy remains complex and fraught with challenges.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
