Pezeshkian warns of US attempts to use talks to ‘weaken’ Iran against Israel
President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran will not accept “degrading conditions” for negotiations with the United States, warning of attempts to strip components of Iran’s military power and “weaken” the country against the Zionist regime.
Speaking in a meeting with high-profile Iranian figures and political elites on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said enemies seek to “take away all the components of Iran’s power and weaken the country against the Zionist regime.”
“We seek peace, but we do not accept bullying,” he added.
He noted that Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States and ready to reach an agreement, but they disrupted the process and launched the war in mid-June.
“At present, they are setting forth degrading conditions for the continuation of negotiations, which I refuse to accept. We will neither bow to humiliation nor accept a weakened and fragmented Iran,” Pezeshkian emphasized.
He reiterated that Iran does not seek to sow discord and has repeatedly announced that it has no intention to build nuclear bombs, stressing that Iran is ready for any verification activity.
The United States has set tough conditions for renewed talks with Iran, demanding zero uranium enrichment and limits on its missile program. Tehran has rejected them as unacceptable infringements on its sovereignty
Iran had held five rounds of talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal prior to the US-Israeli airstrikes on the country and its nuclear facilities in mid-June.
The United States and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement to address not only Iran’s nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program.
Tehran has consistently rejected that demand, insisting its military capabilities are non-negotiable.
On August 28, the European trio invoked the “snapback” mechanism to restore UN sanctions, which had been lifted as part of the 2015 deal, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions.