BARELY 24 Hours After Donald Trump Reimposed ‘Maximum Pressure’, Iran Sends Unexpected Message To U. S
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed former U. S. President Donald Trump’ s decision to reimpose the ” maximum pressure” policy against Iran, calling it a ” failed experiment” that is bound to fail again.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Araghchi stated that Iran remains steadfast in its position and will not be pressured into submission. ” I believe that maximum pressure is a failed experiment, and trying it again will turn into another failure, ” he said. He further reiterated that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim that has long been a point of contention between Tehran and Washington.
Trump Revives ” Maximum Pressure” Strategy
During his first term, which ended in 2021, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement, signed between Iran and world powers— including the U. S. , UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China— had placed restrictions on Iran’ s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, after the U. S. withdrew, Iran gradually stopped complying with the deal’ s terms, arguing that Washington’ s actions had violated the agreement. Efforts to restore the JCPOA have repeatedly stalled, despite diplomatic discussions between Iran and European nations.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an order reinstating the ” maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, citing concerns that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons. Iran has strongly denied these accusations, insisting its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only.
Iran Insists On Peaceful Nuclear Intentions
Araghchi emphasised that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and has no intention of doing so. ” If the main issue is that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons, it is achievable and is not much of a problem, ” he said. He also pointed to a religious decree (fatwa) issued by Iran’ s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which explicitly forbids the development and possession of nuclear weapons.
Iran’ s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, also reinforced this position, stating, ” Iran does not have, and will not have, a nuclear weapons programme. ” He reassured that Tehran remains committed to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
Despite escalating tensions, diplomatic efforts between Iran and European countries are ongoing. In January, Iranian officials met with representatives from the UK, France, and Germany to discuss the future of the nuclear agreement. Both sides described the discussions as ” frank and constructive. ”
Earlier this month, Iran’ s diplomat Majid Takht- Ravanchi suggested that another round of talks could take place ” within a month, ” though no official date has been set.
