Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed talks with Washington in a tweet late Tuesday, saying “threats, sanctions and PR stunts won’t work”.
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s surprise offer of talks without preconditions, Zarif wrote: “Iran & US had 2 yrs of talks.”
“With EU/E3+Russia+China, we produced a unique multilateral accord- the JCPOA (nuclear deal). It’s been working. US can only blame itself for pulling out & leaving the table.”
Trump said Monday he was open to talks with Iran’s leaders “any time” and reiterated the point the following day, telling reporters: “I have a feeling they’ll be talking to us pretty soon.”
But with the US pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal in May and set to re-impose full sanctions from August 6, most of Iran’s officials are unimpressed by the offer.
“Threats, sanctions & PR stunts won’t work,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.
“Try respect: for Iranians & for (international) commitments.”
