Rouhani: US Not Trustworthy for Negotiations after Quitting Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the US administration is no more able to prove its trustworthiness for any negotiations after its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and a number of other international treaties.

Rouhani made the remarks in a live televised interview on Monday, in which he answered questions on Iran’s domestic issues and foreign developments, particularly after the US withdrawal from a landmark nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May.

 “We are always in favor of diplomacy and talks … But talks need honesty … The US re-imposes sanctions on Iran and pulls out of the nuclear deal, and then wants to hold talks with us,” the Iranian president said, press TV reported.

He added that the US must first prove itself willing to solve problems through negotiations after its withdrawal from the JCPOA.

Negotiations with sanctions doesn’t make sense

“Negotiations with sanctions doesn’t make sense. They are imposing sanctions on Iranian children, patients and the nation,” Iran’s chief executive said.

“If you’re an enemy and you stab the other person with a knife and then you say you want negotiations, then the first thing you have to do is remove the knife,” he added.

The Iranian president further stated that a recent call by US President Donald Trump for direct talks with Iran was only aimed at creating division in the country.

“Trump’s call for direct talks is only for domestic consumption in America … and to create division in Iran,” Rouhani pointed out.

“They want to launch psychological warfare against the Iranian nation,” he added.

The US president said on July 30 that he is ready to meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, “any time they want to.”

“It’s good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I’ll meet,” Trump said.

During the televised interview, Rouhani said by withdrawing from the JCPOA, Trump aimed to make Iran leave the nuclear accord as well to lose all it had achieved through the deal.

He said Trump did not want its anti-Iran sanctions to be unilateral and wanted the entire world to impose sanctions on Iran, but he failed to achieve this goal.

“Even today, which sanctions have been re-imposed [by the United States], Europe has stood against America. This is while Europe was always an ally of America,” the Iranian president said.

Noting that the United States will regret imposing sanctions on Iran, Rouhani emphasized that the Iranian nation can overcome all economic hardships through unity.

The United States plans to re-impose a first round of sanctions against Tehran, which were lifted under the multilateral nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015, on Tuesday. The sanctions will cover Iran’s purchases of dollars, its trade in gold and precious metals, and its automotive sector.

Further sanctions on oil and transactions with the central bank of Iran will come into effect on November 4.

Zarif: Trump’s offer of negotiations with Iran only PR stunt

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a recent proposal by US President Donald Trump to enter into negotiations with Iran over the country’s nuclear issue is nothing but a “publicity stunt” as he cannot be trusted with any new talks after withdrawing from Iran nuclear deal.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the National Journalists’ Day in Tehran on Monday, Zarif pointed to Washington’s withdrawal from the historic nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying, “Who will believe that Trump wants to negotiate with Iran?”

 “The hours of our negotiations with America were perhaps unprecedented in history; then Trump signs something and say all [those negotiations] are void; can you negotiate with this person? Is this [negotiations offer] anything but a publicity stunt?” he asked.

Noting that the purpose and subject of any negotiations must be clear, Iran’s top diplomat added, “Negotiations must be worth their while.”

Iran’s foreign minister also stated that nearly 60 percent of the American people believed that Washington should not withdraw from the JCPOA while more than 180 countries expressed their support for the deal as well.

Washington seeks to create the atmosphere through propaganda that it is willing to negotiate with Tehran, but the Iranian people do not accept this, Zarif said.

H.M