Iran Firmly Rejects Pressure and Threats in US Talks: Foreign Ministry Declares
Iran's Foreign Ministry has firmly stated that it will not acquiesce to strategies rooted in threats and coercion during the ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States. This declaration comes amidst the backdrop of Washington's recent imposition of new sanctions on Tehran.
In a statement released on Friday, the ministry reiterated Iran’s dedication to diplomatic efforts and expressed its willingness to persist with negotiations involving the United States.
The Islamic Republic of Iran declared its steadfast refusal to accept any approaches founded on threats and coercion, emphasizing that such actions violate the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter and international law.
According to the statement, these strategies have been crafted to undermine Iran’s national interests and breach the human rights of its citizens.
The alert followed the decision by the US State Department to impose sanctions on seven companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Iran, for their involvement in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.
The sanctions represent the most recent series imposed by the Trump administration on Iran since February, marking the continuation of his so-called maximum pressure campaign against Tehran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of ongoing unlawful sanctions and pressures imposed on Tehran’s trade and economic partners. This stance highlights Iran’s view that such actions justify the Iranian population’s deep skepticism regarding the United States’ commitment to diplomatic efforts.
The statement emphasized that ongoing unlawful actions would not alter Iran’s rational and lawful stance, which is grounded in international law.
The statement cautioned that revisiting previously unsuccessful strategies and approaches is likely to result in nothing more than a recurrence of the same expensive failures.
In the wake of a letter from Trump to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, which expressed a willingness to seek diplomatic solutions to the perceived crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, Tehran has initiated indirect discussions with Washington. These efforts are characterized by a spirit of goodwill, underpinned by national strength and confidence, according to reports.
During three rounds of negotiations, Iranian representatives articulated the nation’s positions and justified demands while making concerted efforts to achieve a fair, reasonable, and lasting agreement.
The Iranian negotiating team is adhering to a structured framework aligned with Iran’s fundamental principles and international law. This approach focuses on the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and seeks the lifting of what are described as unjust sanctions, according to the ministry.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned about the potential repercussions stemming from the United States’ conflicting actions and inciting stances.
He stated that the recent wave of sanctions targeting both Iranian and non-Iranian individuals and companies serves as a clear indication of U.S. policymakers’ resolve to flout international law and infringe upon the rights and interests of other nations. These actions, he added, are part of a broader attempt to undermine amicable and lawful relations between developing nations through economic coercion.
On Thursday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to issue a warning, suggesting the implementation of secondary sanctions and the potential severing of business ties with nations that engage in the purchase of Iranian oil or petrochemicals.
Trump has issued a directive for the immediate cessation of all purchases of Iranian oil and petrochemical products.
In his initial term, Trump exited the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, subsequently initiating a campaign of maximum pressure against the nation.
In January, after resuming his role at the White House for a second term, Trump reinstated the policy. However, he has recently indicated an openness to renegotiate and establish a new agreement to replace the existing one.
On March 12, Trump dispatched a formal letter to the leadership of Iran, inviting them to engage in talks aimed at forging a new agreement.
