Iran slams US ‘PR stunts’

The response comes followed by Trump’s offer on talks without preconditions

TEHRAN: Iran waved away US President Donald Trump’s claims that talks with the country’s leaders were imminent, saying “threats, sanctions and PR stunts won’t work”, reports AFP.

With Washington pulling out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and set to reimpose full sanctions on Iran from August 6, Tehran has responded coolly to Trump’s offer on Monday to talk “any time” without preconditions.

“Threats, sanctions & PR stunts won’t work. Try respect: for Iranians & for (international) commitments,” tweeted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The Revolutionary Guards also made their opposition to talks clear.

“The Iranian people do not authorise officials to meet the Great Satan... Mr Trump, Iran is not North Korea,” said General Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Guards, in an open letter published in local media.

Trump told a rally in Tampa, Florida earlier on Tuesday: “I have a feeling they’ll be talking to us pretty soon... And maybe not, and that’s OK too.” He used the occasion to again blast the “horrible, one-sided” 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers which he abandoned in May.

“It’s a horror show,” Trump said.

“I hope it works out well with Iran. They are having a lot of difficulty right now.”

There was not yet an official response from the top leadership, but supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a fortnight ago that talks with Trump would be “useless.”

Scepticism is indeed rife in Tehran over Trump’s latest tactic, with one high-profile lawmaker saying negotiations would be a “humiliation.”

Despite the rejection, many Iranians are deeply concerned that sanctions could tip the country into a major crisis.

Tehran’s Grand Bazaar was packed on Wednesday lunchtime as customers rushed to snap up goods for fear of what might happen when full sanctions return on Monday.

 

Iran slams US PR stunts

The response comes followed by Trumps offer on talks without preconditions

TEHRAN: Iran waved away US President Donald Trumps claims that talks with the countrys leaders were imminent, saying threats, sanctions and PR stunts wont work, reports AFP. With Washington pulling out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and set to reimpose full sanctions on Iran from August 6, Tehran has responded coolly to Trumps offer on Monday to talk any time without preconditions. Threats, sanctions PR stunts wont work. Try respect: for Iranians for (international) commitments, tweeted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Revolutionary Guards also made their opposition to talks clear. The Iranian people do not authorise officials to meet the Great Satan... Mr Trump, Iran is not North Korea, said General Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Guards, in an open letter published in local media. Trump told a rally in Tampa, Florida earlier on Tuesday: I have a feeling theyll be talking to us pretty soon... And maybe not, and thats OK too. He used the occasion to again blast the horrible, one-sided 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers which he abandoned in May. Its a horror show, Trump said. I hope it works out well with Iran. They are having a lot of difficulty right now. There was not yet an official response from the top leadership, but supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a fortnight ago that talks with Trump would be useless. Scepticism is indeed rife in Tehran over Trumps latest tactic, with one high-profile lawmaker saying negotiations would be a humiliation. Despite the rejection, many Iranians are deeply concerned that sanctions could tip the country into a major crisis. Tehrans Grand Bazaar was packed on Wednesday lunchtime as customers rushed to snap up goods for fear of what might happen when full sanctions return on Monday.