Iran (TDI): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday told his US counterpart Donald Trump to “do whatever damn thing” he wants, rejecting talks if conducted under orders or threats.
“It’s not acceptable for them to say, we are ordering you not to do this, and not to do that, or we will do this,'” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Iranian producers and entrepreneurs.”
“I’m not coming to talk with you at all. Go and do whatever damn thing you want.”
The remarks followed Trump saying on Friday that he had written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging him to strike a new agreement on its nuclear program or face potential military action.
Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in July, has supporting the idea of reviving a 2015 nuclear deal agreed with world powers, which collapsed after Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the pact in 2018.
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However, Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran, said in February that Tehran should not talk with the US, terming it “unwise” while citing Washington’s withdrawal from the original deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week that Iran will not enter any direct talks with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats.
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Pezeshkian reiterated on Tuesday that Tehran sought global engagement but would not accept humiliation.
We need to have a relationship with the world, but we are not supposed to bow in humiliation to anyone, he added.
