TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for sending conflicting signals over ongoing nuclear negotiations, saying Washington’s mixed messaging undermines trust.
“Which message are we supposed to believe?” Pezeshkian asked during a naval event in Tehran. “President Trump talks about peace while simultaneously issuing threats with weapons of mass destruction.”
Despite the tension, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy, stating, “We will continue our negotiations with the U.S., but we are not intimidated by threats. Iran is not seeking war.”
Trump had said Friday that Iran had received a U.S. proposal concerning its nuclear programme and must act swiftly to resolve the long-running standoff. “They know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen,” he said aboard Air Force One after leaving the UAE, according to an audio recording of his comments.
Iranian officials pushed back. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media that Tehran had received no such proposal. “There is no scenario in which Iran will give up its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes,” he said.
Pezeshkian echoed this stance, declaring, “We will not abandon our legitimate rights. Because we resist intimidation, we are accused of creating instability.”
The latest round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations concluded in Oman last Sunday, but no date has been set for the next round.