Instead, Iran will hold trilateral nuclear talks with China and Russia in Beijing this Friday after rebuking U.S. President Donald Trump for his offer to Tehran using bullying tactics.. Newsweek
“There are two ways Iran can be handled, militarily or you make a deal,” Trump said. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people. I know so many Iranians from this country.”
The president went on to criticize Iran’s leadership, but said he’s written Iran’s supreme leader personally asking to talk. Khamenei rebuffed the outreach Saturday during a meeting with government and military officials. “
Reuters: “It is unacceptable for us that they (the U.S.) give orders and make threats. I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want”, state media quoted President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, a day after Trump said he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.”
Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the meeting of deputy foreign ministers and said it would focus on “developments related to the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions”. China has also confirmed the meeting and says it will host a trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran in Beijing on March 14.
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will preside over the talks, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi attending, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Khamenei rejected Trump’s offer of talks on Sunday, though Iran’s U.N. mission posted on X that discussions to address concerns “vis-à-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program…may be subject to consideration.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also rejected Trump’s offer. “It is unacceptable for us that they give orders and make threats,” Pezeshkian said on Tuesday. “I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want.”
