Iran Open to Dialogue with U.S. but Rejects Negotiations Under Threat

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday that Iran is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States on equal terms but emphasized that Tehran would not participate in direct talks under threat or pressure. This statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments, in which he urged Iran to engage in direct negotiations over its nuclear program, while also threatening military action if diplomacy fails.

Pezeshkian clarified that while Iran is open to dialogue, it cannot entertain negotiations under the shadow of threats. “The Islamic Republic of Iran wants dialogue on equal footing,” he said, during a meeting reported by the Iranian presidency’s website.

Trump had previously expressed a preference for direct talks with Iran, arguing that it would expedite the process and lead to a better understanding between both sides. However, Pezeshkian responded to Trump’s approach, asking, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?” He further criticized the U.S. actions, suggesting that America’s policies, including tariffs on imports, were humiliating not just Iran but the world.

The United States and its allies have long accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, a claim that Iran vehemently denies, stating its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. In 2015, Iran reached a nuclear agreement with world powers, but the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under Trump’s administration, leading to the reinstatement of sanctions and Iran’s subsequent rollback on its commitments under the agreement.

Read more: Global “Hands Off” Protests Erupt Against Trump and Elon Musk’s Policies

Meanwhile, Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, remarked that Iran is prepared for war, though it does not seek conflict. “We are ready for any war,” he stated, underscoring Iran’s readiness in the face of threats but reiterating that it would not initiate any aggression.

In light of the escalating tensions, Iranian official Ali Larijani warned that while Iran does not aim to pursue nuclear weapons, it would have no choice but to do so if it faces an attack.