Iran has never accepted negotiations under the shadow of threats, a former senior Iranian official said, adding that any future talks with the United States require Washington to abandon threats.
Mahmoud Vaezi, former chief of staff to the Iranian president when the 2015 nuclear deal was signed, suggested that if the Trump administration ceases threats during indirect negotiations with Iran and demonstrates genuine goodwill, a change in approach towards reaching an agreement is possible.
“It's crucial for American authorities to understand, through historical context, that Iran's leadership has never accepted talks under pressure, bullying, threats, or intimidation in its over 40-year history, including during the Iran-Iraq War and various crises, and has never yielded to any form of pressure.”
He said that Iran has always responded positively to negotiations conducted with mutual respect, equality, and fairness. "Negotiations have taken place and yielded effective, constructive outcomes whenever there has been an approach based on equality and mutual respect,” he said.
Vaezi pointed to the previous successful negotiations with the P5+1 that led to the JCPOA, saying that reaching a constructive agreement is possible under new circumstances, provided the US acts in good faith.
He added that Iran's preference for indirect talks stems from the US's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA despite direct negotiations leading to the agreement.
