Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized on Saturday that his country would not yield to international pressure during ongoing nuclear talks with the United States. “The world powers are pressuring us into submission,” he said in a live speech broadcast by state television, “But we will not be bowing down even as they create difficulties for us.”
This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of an impending naval build-up and potential military strike on Iran, part of his strategy to compel Tehran to reach a nuclear deal. Pezeshkian made his remarks after Washington issued a 15-day deadline for a mutually beneficial agreement, which has yet to be met.
Pezeshkian’s defiant stance comes as Iran’s foreign minister announced the completion of preliminary negotiations in Geneva and expressed that a draft agreement could be prepared within days. This development came shortly after the US delegation returned from their talks with Tehran.
The US President’s latest threats included a promise to consider military action if Iran failed to meet its deadline, an ultimatum which extended by two days. Pezeshkian’s assertion was made as part of a broader military response orchestrated by Washington, including the arrival of aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Despite recent US rhetoric, Iranian officials remain firm in their position. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that Tehran had not offered any suspension to its nuclear enrichment program during negotiations; instead, they were discussing ways to guarantee a peaceful future for Iran’s nuclear activities.
In a televised interview with MS NOW, Araghchi denied accusations from American diplomats and emphasized the Iranian stance: “We have not presented any end to our enrichment program, and there has been no request from the US side. What we are addressing is how to ensure that Iran’s nuclear activities remain peaceful and harmless forever.”
As these negotiations continue, tensions within the Middle East hover at a critical juncture, with both sides vying for leverage over a complex issue. The future of peace in the region remains uncertain as international diplomacy grapples with volatile conditions.