US-Iran relations: What lies ahead?

[FearlessRoar]

Iran says its foreign policy driven by interests after Trump voices readiness to talk

Iran’s foreign policy is driven by dignity, wisdom and interest, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, in response to US President Donald Trump saying that Washington was ready to reach out to Tehran.

“Our foreign policy has always been driven by the following principles: dignity for our country and people, wisdom and interest,” Fatemeh Mohajerani said during a press conference, when asked to react to Trump’s willingness to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart.

“Wisdom means looking behind the scenes and having correct understanding of them.”

On Tuesday, Trump restored his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that included efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero in order to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

As he signed the presidential memorandum, Trump described it as tough and said he was torn on whether to make the move.

He added he was open to a deal with Iran and expressed a willingness to talk to President Masoud Pezeshkian.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/02/05/iran-says-its-foreign-policy-driven-by-interests-after-trump-voices-readiness-to-talk-

 

[Bhaijaan]

The world would be a better place if Baron Trump is married to a princess of Persia, uniting these two ancient nations in an eternal bond of love.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Trump says he prefers verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran​

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran “cannot have a Nuclear Weapon,” a day after he signed an order reinstating a “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran over allegations that it was trying to develop such weapons.

“I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding: “I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper.”

He also said reports that the United States, “working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens" were “GREATLY EXAGGERATED.”

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/united-states/2025/02/05/trump-says-he-prefers-verified-nuclear-peace-agreement-with-iran

 

[BouncerGuy]

Iran Condemns New US Sanctions As 'Illegal' And 'Unjustified'

Iran on Friday condemned as "illegal" and "unjustified" new financial sanctions by the United States that target a network accused of shipping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian crude oil to China.

"The decision of the new US government to exert pressure on the Iranian nation by preventing Iran's legal trade with its economic partners is an illegitimate, illegal and violative measure," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.

The US move was "categorically unjustified and contrary to international rules", Baqaei added.

The US Department of the Treasury on Thursday announced financial sanctions against an international network "facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars" to China.

The oil was shipped on behalf of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff and a sanctioned front company called Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, the treasury department wrote in a statement.

The sanctions came after US President Donald Trump reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy against Iran over allegations the country is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran has slammed the reinstatement of the policy -- similar to one Trump levied against Tehran during his first term as president -- saying pursuing it would end in "failure".

Under the tough policy of sanctions during Trump's first term, which ended in 2021, Washington withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal that had imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

Tehran adhered to the deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- until a year after Washington pulled out, but then began rolling back its commitments.

Efforts to revive the 2015 deal have since faltered.

Trump on Wednesday called for a "verified nuclear peace agreement" with Iran, adding that it "cannot have a Nuclear Weapon".

Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop atomic weapons.

AFP

 

[FearlessRoar]

Iranian president says US readiness for negotiations is not ‘sincere’​

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday questioned the United States’ sincerity in seeking negotiations with Tehran as crowds of people, many chanting “Death to America,” rallied across the country to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

US President Donald Trump last week restored his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that includes efforts to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and tightened sanctions.

Trump said however that he was open to a deal with Iran and expressed a willingness to talk to Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian, in a televised speech at Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, said: “If the US were sincere about negotiations, why did they sanction us?”

He said Tehran “does not seek war...but will not yield to foreign pressure.”

Iranian state television showed hundreds of thousands of people turning out to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution in a rally the clerical establishment billed as a chance to show unity amid mounting US and Israel pressure.

“Death to America,” and “Death to Israel,” shouted demonstrators in cities and towns across Iran, repeating the ritual chant of the revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah and swept the Shi’ite Muslim clergy to power.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/02/10/iranian-president-says-us-readiness-for-negotiations-is-not-sincere-

 

[sweep_shot]

Why can't Iran have nuclear weapon?

If America can have it, why can't other countries?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Iran says US blocking Iranians from basic necessities​

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that US sanctions were depriving his people of basic necessities, vowing his government would find a way to overcome the country’s challenges.

“Why are you blocking the people’s access to food, water, and medicine?” Pezeshkian said of the sanctions during a visit to the southern Bushehr province.

“They cannot block our path, we will find a way,” he added in remarks broadcast on state TV.

US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House on January 20, has reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy towards Iran over concerns the country is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied it is seeking an atomic bomb.

His administration announced new sanctions earlier this month targeting a network accused of shipping Iranian oil to China after Trump ordered the government to adopt a campaign “to drive Iran’s export of oil to zero” and to “modify or rescind sanctions waivers”.

Trump has also recently called for striking a deal with Iran, suggesting in a Monday interview that stopping it from developing nuclear weapons could be achieved either “with bombs” or with an agreement.

“I’d love to make a deal with them without bombing them,” he told Fox News.

But Pezeshkian brushed off those remarks, saying “they do not want to talk to us, they want us to be humiliated... and we won’t be”.

“We are able to solve many of our own problems by relying on our own strengths,” he added.

Iranian officials have repeatedly echoed that sentiment since the re-imposition of the “maximum pressure” approach, which saw Washington withdraw from a landmark nuclear deal in 2018 during Trump’s first term in office.

Tehran continued to adhere to the deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- until a year after Washington pulled out, but then began rolling back its commitments.

On Friday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, said there should be no new negotiations with the United States. Trump had earlier called for a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Iran.

“No problem will be solved by negotiating with America,” Khamenei said.

On Wednesday, Khamenei called for developing Iran’s military capabilities to “defend the country against evildoers.”

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/02/13/iran-says-us-blocking-iranians-from-basic-necessities