This Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian firmly stated that Iran will not yield to pressure from the United States and refuses to engage in negotiations under coercion.
“Iran will not surrender to threats and will not retreat in the face of external pressures,” he emphasized. While asserting that Iran does not desire conflict with any nation, he stressed the country’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with its neighbors.
He further declared that any nation seeking negotiations with Iran must first abandon hostile policies.
“Our stance is not against negotiations, but we refuse to be dictated to by Trump, who simultaneously imposes sanctions on us and expects dialogue,” Pezeshkian remarked. “The U.S. intends to bring us to the negotiating table in a weakened position, but that is not going to happen.”
Questioning Washington’s sincerity, he asked, “If Trump is truly interested in negotiations, why does he actively obstruct them?” The Iranian leader highlighted what he described as the U.S.’s contradictory approach, which he believes has been recognized by the Iranian populace. He affirmed Iran’s capability to navigate its challenges independently, relying on domestic resources to ensure continued progress. “No force can halt our development; we will find ways to overcome obstacles and move forward,” he insisted.
Pezeshkian also pointed out that the same parties advocating for negotiations today were responsible for imposing some of the harshest economic restrictions on the Iranian people. He called for an end to Washington’s duplicity in dealing with Iran.
Turning to regional security concerns, he acknowledged that while Israel might attempt to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, it lacks the ability to prevent Tehran from rebuilding them.
Recent reports from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The Washington Post, citing U.S. intelligence assessments, indicate that Israel is contemplating significant military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to these sources, Israel is considering such strikes this year, taking advantage of what it perceives as a period of Iranian vulnerability. The report suggests that Israeli officials believe Trump would be more inclined to support such an operation compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Despite such reports, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a preference for reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran rather than engaging in direct military conflict. However, even as he expresses interest in a diplomatic resolution, Trump has reinstated the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, reinforcing economic sanctions that have significantly impacted the country. “They do not want to perish. No one wants to die. If an agreement were reached, Israel wouldn’t resort to bombing,” Trump reportedly stated this week.
Trump’s infamous record on Iran
During his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord and reinstated stringent sanctions against Iran. In mid-2022, negotiations between Washington and Tehran nearly led to a new agreement, but the talks ultimately collapsed. Several factors contributed to this breakdown, including intense Israeli opposition and the eruption of widespread protests across Iran in September of that year, many of which were reportedly influenced by foreign actors.
On February 10, while delivering a speech commemorating the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s unwavering stance. “If the U.S. was truly committed to negotiations, why did they impose sanctions on us?” he questioned. He reaffirmed Iran’s desire for peace but made it clear that the nation would not submit to external pressure or coercion.
