President Trump both urged and threatened, how did Iran's Supreme Leader react?

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke out on March 8 after US President Donald Trump threatened military action if Tehran refused to participate in negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

"Some bullying governments , I really don't know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than bullying, insist on negotiations," Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Iranian officials, according to AFP. "Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems, but at domination," Khamenei asserted.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on March 8.

Khamenei accused the bullying powers of deliberately setting new conditions that they do not expect Iran to meet. "They are setting new expectations that they believe Iran will definitely not meet," Khamenei said, without naming the United States or referring to President Trump's comments.

On March 7, President Trump said he had written to Iran's supreme leader, urging new talks on Iran's nuclear program but warning of possible military action if Tehran refused.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran had not received any letter from the US president until March 8. In an interview with AFP on March 7, Mr. Araghchi stressed that Iran would not negotiate under "maximum pressure".

The “maximum pressure” policy, revived by Mr Trump upon returning to the White House in January, saw him reimpose comprehensive sanctions on Tehran during his first term after abandoning the nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Signed between Tehran and world powers in 2015, the JCPOA provided for sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.

In recent months, Tehran has engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European parties to the JCPOA, Britain, France and Germany, to resolve issues surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions.

However, on March 8, Mr. Khamenei condemned the governments of the three countries for "claiming that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA".

“You said Iran has not fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA. So, have you fulfilled your commitments under the JCPOA?” Khamenei asked.

Khamenei recalled that Tehran complied with the terms of the JCPOA for a full year after Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 before starting to roll back its own commitments. Khamenei said there was “no other way” after Iran’s parliament passed the law. Tehran has since ramped up uranium enrichment far beyond the JCPOA limit.

US officials now estimate that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within weeks if it chose to do so, according to AFP. Meanwhile, Tehran has consistently denied pursuing a nuclear arsenal, stressing the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-trump-vua-hoi-vua-doa-lanh-tu-toi-cao-iran-phan-ung-ra-sao-185250309073157736.htm