Tabnak – While sticking to his policy of maximizing pressures on Iran, US President Donald Trump has now and again expressed willingness to enter negotiations with the Islamic Republic. Assessing Trump’s calls as not being serious, Iranian officials demand a change in Washington’s behavior as a precondition for any talks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi ruled out the possibility of any negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the US administration in the near future, saying there is no prospect of engaging in such talks for the time being.
In early May, the Trump administration announced plans to build up Washington’s military presence in the Middle East to counter unspecified Iranian “threats,” shortly after toughening oil sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
However, in parallel with his belligerent policies, Trump has, on several occasions in the past weeks, offered to hold talks with Iran. During a visit to Japan on Monday, Trump used a more conciliatory tone, saying the US was not seeking a regime change in Iran and repeating the offer of negotiations.
Reacting to Trump’s latest comments, Mousavi said Tuesday that Tehran “pays no attention to mere words and rhetoric. What matters to us is that this shift in tone will be complemented with a change in [US] behavior and approach.”
“We will base our decisions on our own observations as well as the impacts [of US moves] on our country and the region,” the Iranian official added.
Mousavi further called on Americans to respect international agreements and resume their commitments under the 2015 deal before any offer of negotiations. “Currently, we are not in talks with the US," he said, adding that from Iran's viewpoint, holding any such talks is conditioned on the US returning to the international agreement that it has violated.
In the same vein, Iran’s foreign minister says US President Donald Trump has to prove in action whether he seeks to fall into line with the league of anti-Iran domestic and regional officials.
Tweeting on Monday, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “B-Team's Economic Terrorism is hurting the Iranian people and causing tension in the region. Actions—not words—will show whether or not that's Donald Trump's intent.”
In late April, Zarif identified the B-Team as US National Security Advisor John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to Zarif, the markedly hostile foursome have themselves admitted to targeting the Iranian people with economic terrorism.
