US State Department: Iran's refusal to negotiate keeps it under 'maximum pressure'

 In response to Khamenei’s statements, the US State Department: Iran’s refusal to negotiate keeps it under “maximum pressure”

The US State Department, in response to an inquiry by “Iran International” regarding Ali Khamenei’s statements in which he described negotiations with Washington as “irrational,” confirmed that the US President’s position is clear: If Iran does not want to reach an agreement, it will remain subject to the reactivated “maximum pressure” regime.

The US State Department spokesman told “Iran International” that President Donald Trump has made clear his determination to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon, and has expressed his willingness to negotiate a new agreement with Tehran.

These statements came in response to Ali Khamenei’s statements yesterday, Friday, in which he categorically rejected the possibility of negotiating with the United States, in a position that undermines Trump’s and Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration’s optimism about the possibility of reaching a new nuclear agreement.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump re-implemented the "maximum pressure" policy against Iran, a strategy he had pursued during his first term, but at the same time stressed that he preferred to reach an agreement with Tehran. For his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously expressed his public desire for dialogue with the United States.

As for the Iranian Supreme Leader, who was speaking on the occasion of Iranian Air Force Day on the anniversary of the meeting of army officers with Khomeini in February 1979, he renewed his rejection of the idea of ​​negotiating with Washington, stressing that "negotiations with America will not solve the country's problems."

It is worth noting that Khamenei's latest position, who has always stated his lack of optimism about negotiations with America, is considered his strongest comment in this context since Trump's return to power. He clearly stated: “Negotiation is not wise, it is not smart, it is not honorable.

” The Iranian leader’s remarks came after Donald Trump spoke in a conciliatory tone towards Iran, and at the same time signed a decree reactivating the “maximum pressure” policy, saying: “I really want to see peace… (but) Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”