Iran President rejects U.S. talks under threats, says ‘go and do whatever damn thing you want’

Iranian President rejects U.S. negotiations under threats, advocates for global engagement without humiliation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday (March 11, 2025) told his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to "do whatever damn thing" he wants, rejecting negotiations if conducted under orders or threats.

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"It's not acceptable for them to say, 'we're ordering you not to do this, and not to do that, or we'll do this,'" Mr. Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Iranian producers and entrepreneurs.

"I'm not coming to negotiate with you at all. Go and do whatever damn thing you want."

The comments followed Mr. Trump saying on Friday that he had written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to strike a new deal on its nuclear program or face potential military action.

Mr. Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in July, has advocated reviving a 2015 nuclear accord agreed with world powers, which collapsed after Mr. Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018.

However, Mr. Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran, said in February that Iran should not negotiate with the U.S., calling it "unwise" while citing Washington's withdrawal from the original agreement.