- Iranians holding Ashura mourning for Imam Hussein
- Third step: Iran officially informs EU of plan to expand nuclear R&D
- Iran expands nuclear R&D program: Rouhani
- Iran goes ahead in space tech, despite US sanctions: ISA
- Resistance Front undermining Israeli regime power: Top commander
- Iran: 7 crew members of detained UK ship freed
- US addiction to sanction threaten its power: Iran’s Zarif
- Dutch role in 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear site under scrutiny: Iraian FM Spox.
- Iran: ‘Sustainable Security 2019’ kicks off in Caspian Sea
- Iran’s Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
- Shiraz University ranked 1st in liver transplantation: Iranian health official
- Japan’s Abe to meet Iran’s president to discuss easing tension in region
- Downing of US spy drone shattered war threats against Iran: Top IRGC commander
- IAEO head reports development of first ion-therapy hospital in west of Asia
- Iranian Taekwondo team wins 2019 World Cup championship
- US sanctions failed to force Iran to buckle: Report
- Crew fixing Iran oil tanker broken down in Red Sea
- As Iranians hold nerves, US seeks to scare off trade
- Leader expresses concern about Kashmir, urges India to follow fair policy toward Muslim-majority region
- Iran saffron exports down due to smuggling, government restrictions: Exporter
- Iran FM warns US against ‘serious miscalculation’ in Persian Gulf
- Iran’s resistance policy led to release of oil tanker: MP
- Iran in reverse brain drain as top students come home in rising numbers
- Iran official calls for compensation for tanker seizure
- Iran hails N Korea for standing against ‘unilateral’ US demands
- Shia Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir
- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
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- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
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- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
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- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
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- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
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- Iran’s annual export of white meat tops 2.5m tons: Minister
- Iranian scientist discovers new state of matter
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- ‘Iran to become self-sufficient in producing aircraft engines'
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- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
- US threatens visa ban as Iranian-operated tanker sets to sail from Gibraltar
- Enemies must factor Iran's global power in their calculations: IRGC's chief commander
- Trump’s administration conflicting messages to Iran baffle go-betweens: Report
- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
TEHRAN, Apr 24 -President Hassan Rouhani says Washington’s claims of seeking negotiations with Iran are “mere lies” and that the US is, instead, bent on forcing the Iranian nation to its knees.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -Contrary to what some are trying to promote, “the US does not possess the readiness for negotiations at all,” the president said during a government meeting in Tehran on Wednesday.
“The actions that it is taking are aimed at defeating the Iranian nation” and “returning” to Iran, he added, referring to Washington’s ample presence and influence in the country prior to the victory of its Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Rouhani said the US had so far failed in all of its subversive measures against Iran on the international, regional, and political scenes as well as its propagandist attempts targeting the Islamic Republic.
Washington has been and will be frustrated in its anti-Iran economic drive too, he added.
The US administration said Monday it would not extend sanctions exemptions to countries importing oil from Iran when they expire in early May.
At the same time, US special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, said in an interview with a Saudi television network that the US was ready to negotiate a new agreement with Iran that he said would cover Iran’s “nuclear program, their missile program, their regional aggression, and the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals, which include Americans.”
‘No talks with a hooligan’
Iran has always favored talks and diplomacy, but it will not be negotiating with a hooligan, the president said. “Accepting such negotiations would mean humiliation and capitulation,” he added.
Negotiations, Rouhani noted, would only be possible under the aegis of mutual respect and only if the US relieves all the pressure it has been mounting on the country and apologize for its illegal actions targeting the Iranian nation.
‘US can’t monopolize oil market’
Rouhani, however, said the US would not be able to monopolize the world’s oil market despite all its attempts.
“This is not possible. We will be selling our oil using various means,” he noted, and said the US would be oppressing all the oil companies and nations in the world, including its own, by pursuing such a policy.
The Iranian president finally pointed to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates’ recent pledges to make up for potential supply shortages as the US is enforcing the sanctions, warning the two Arab states against their misbehavior towards the Islamic Republic.
‘Iran once saved Saudi Arabia, UAE’
The two states owe their existence today to Iran, which once refused to cooperate with the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in its decision to invade the Persian Gulf’s littoral states.
Before invading Saudi neighbor Kuwait, Saddam had told Iran that Iraq and Iran “will be sharing 800 kilometers (497 miles) in border in the Persian Gulf,” Rouhani said. “This shows that Saddam was seeking to occupy Saudi Arabia, Oman, the Emirates, and Qatar in addition to Kuwait,” he added.
Had it not been for Iran’s “rational” decision back then not to cooperate with Saddam, “there would have been no trace of these countries today,” the president stated.
Source: Press TV
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