Iran’s Khamenei slams ‘bullying’ after Trump threats

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday slammed what he described as bullying tactics a day after United States (US) President Donald Trump threatened military action.

“Some bully governments — I really don’t know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying — insist on negotiations,” Khamenei told officials after Trump threatened military action if Iran refuses to engage in talks on its nuclear program.

“Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems, they aim at domination,” Khamenei said.

On Friday, Trump said he had written to Iran’s supreme leader, urging new talks on the country’s nuclear program but warning of possible military action if it refuses.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had yet to receive any letter from the US president by Saturday.

“We have heard of it (the letter) but we haven’t received anything,” he told state television.

Khamenei accused the bullying powers of deliberately setting new conditions they did not expect Iran to meet.

“They are setting new expectations that they think will definitely not be met by Iran,” he said, without naming the US or referring to Trump’s comments.

On Friday, Araghchi told Agence France-Presse in an interview that Iran would not negotiate under “maximum pressure.”

The policy, reinstated by Trump on his return to the White House in January, saw him reimpose sweeping sanctions on Tehran during his first term after abandoning the nuclear accord formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Struck between Tehran and major powers in 2015, the deal had offered relief from sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.

Tehran has in recent months engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European parties to the deal ­— Britain, France and Germany — aimed at resolving issues surrounding its nuclear ambitions.