Iran Rejects Negotiations Under Pressure Amid Nuclear Deal Tensions

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Saturday, March 8, in Dubai, that Iran will not be coerced into negotiations with the United States. This announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim of sending a letter to Iran's leadership to negotiate a nuclear agreement. Khamenei, in a meeting with senior Iranian officials, said that Washington's negotiation offer aimed to "impose their own expectations." He added that Iran would not accept these expectations, viewing talks as a means for dominant governments to exert control. Trump has expressed openness to a deal with Tehran but has also reinstated a "maximum pressure" campaign to isolate Iran economically. This campaign was initially applied during his first term. The U.S. withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018, leading Iran to exceed the deal's limits on nuclear activities. The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief has warned that time is running out to impose new restrictions on Iran's nuclear program, as Tehran continues to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Iran maintains its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.