Iran rejects US pressure, refuses to negotiate under intimidation

Iran has declared that it will not engage in negotiations under threats or intimidation, following the United States’ decision to revoke a sanctions waiver that previously allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Tehran.

In a statement on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasized that the country’s nuclear program is and will remain peaceful, dismissing US concerns about potential militarization. “We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation.

We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be,” he stated on social media platform X.

This response came after Iran’s mission to the United Nations hinted on Sunday that Tehran might be open to talks addressing US concerns about its nuclear activities, though not about dismantling the program entirely.

The mission clarified that while discussions on preventing military use of nuclear technology could be considered, negotiations aimed at completely ending Iran’s nuclear program “will never take place.”

US President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, reimposing sanctions aimed at crippling its oil industry.

The US State Department justified the decision to end Iraq’s sanctions waiver by stating that it was necessary to prevent Iran from gaining economic benefits.

Iran currently supplies a third of Iraq’s gas and electricity, making the waiver crucial for Baghdad.

The US embassy in Iraq has urged the Iraqi government to reduce its reliance on Iranian energy sources, while Iraqi authorities have stated they are prepared for “all scenarios.”

Analysts warn that Iraq, despite its vast oil and gas reserves, will struggle with electricity shortages, especially during the summer months.

Gulf analyst Yesar Al-Maleki suggested that Baghdad might seek alternative energy imports, including from Turkey, to mitigate the impact.

The waiver was initially introduced in 2018 after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama.

That agreement had promised Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear activities. However, after Trump abandoned the deal, Iran gradually reduced its commitments.

US officials now estimate that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within weeks if it chooses to do so, a claim Tehran continues to deny.