Pezeshkian: Iran after no war, seeks to ‘live in peace and tranquility’
Trump hopes for striking nuclear deal with Tehran
Positive signals are coming from Tehran and Washington as the two countries’ presidents prioritize negotiations to settle their disputes, not least over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Iran is not seeking war with any country but “we seek to live in peace and tranquility.”
In a meeting with elites in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Pezeshkian said that he believes Iran should speak to the world with the language of peace.
The Iranian president said China, which considers the United States as its number one enemy, tolerates the Washington’s threats because it wants to gain maximum benefits from the relations with the US.
The Iranian president, however, said threats and sanctions by the enemies cannot bring Iran to its knees.
Since taking office in July, the new Iranian administration has repeatedly voiced its readiness to hold talks with the Western countries to resolve their disputes over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh, an Iranian lawmaker, recently said Pezeshkian favors direct negotiations with the United States to put an end to long-standing differences, including Iran’s nuclear issue.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi also said on Tuesday that Tehran is ready to start negotiations to lift “illegal and unilateral” sanctions imposed on Iran.
In recent months, Iran and European parties to the nuclear deal – France, Germany and the UK – have held several rounds of talks on Iran’s nuclear program and have agreed to resume the negotiations in the future.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would look to do a deal with Iran.
When asked if he would support Israel striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said, “It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step.”
He added, “Iran hopefully, will make a deal.”
“The only thing I’ve said about Iran – and I want them to have a great country, they have great potential, the people are amazing – The only thing I said about Iran, is they can’t have a nuclear weapon and they are religious zealots,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News.
People familiar with the matter also said Trump is to put his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in charge of managing Iran nuclear file, suggesting the US president is willing to test diplomacy before increasing the pressure on Tehran.
In an interview with Fox News two weeks ago, Witkoff said Trump wants to try and get a deal with Iran.
Senior diplomats from France, Germany, the UK and the EU met with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva 10 days ago and discussed Iran’s nuclear program.
In 2015, Tehran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with six world powers.
However, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.