Iran believes it “would be a humiliation” to agree to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the nuclear treaty that’s caused an increase in tensions, Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, said Tuesday.
“Based on our bad experiences in negotiations with America and based on U.S. officials’ violation of their commitments, it is natural that we see no value in his proposal,” Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said to the semi-official Fars news agency, Reuters reported.
Tensions have intensified between the two nations after Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord in May and reimposed sanctions on the nation that have continued to cripple its economy. (RELATED: Trump Threaten’s Countries With Sanctions If They Import Any Iranian Oil)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has condemned Trump’s decision, calling it “illegal” and insisting he would not bow to America’s demand to staunch nuclear proliferation, despite protests in June from outraged citizens worried about the failing economy.
Kharrazi insisted Trump first make amends with Iran and walk back his nuclear demands, then they would consider coming to the table for talks.
“Trump should first make up for his withdrawal from the nuclear deal and show that he respects his predecessors’ commitments and international law,” Kharrazi told Fars.
Trump and Rouhani have continued to exchange threats and discontent with each other in recent weeks. The president of Iran threatened that the U.S. was on the tip of “the mother of all wars” if Trump continues to block international exports of Iranian oil. Trump responded with a heated tweet warning Rouhani to “Never, ever threaten the United States again.”
To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
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