Iran Envoy Warns West against Nuclear Pressure

A top Iranian envoy said Wednesday that increased Western pressure over his country’s nuclear program could end hopes for a negotiated settlement.
Ahead of key new negotiations in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Iran’s UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said that his country wants talks, but hit out at Western tactics of sanctions along with engagement.
Khazaee, warned that more sanctions could doom talks over Iran’s nuclear drive.
“More pressure can only beget more distrust, leading Iran, in turn, to lose hope in a negotiated settlement,” the envoy said at the Asia Society in New York.

He further stated that “as long as pressure is on Iran, as long as there is a sword on our neck to come to negotiations, this is not negotiations, therefore Iranians cannot accept that.”
In parallel, Khazaee said President Barack Obama’s administration declared “economic war” against Iran.
On the calls for diplomatic talks, the Iranian diplomat stated that “such meetings should require mutual respect between the United States and Iran and discarding the two-track policy of pressure and engagement.”