Ghasemi: Iran Has No Contact with the New U.S. Government

Bahram Ghasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, announced that there is no relationship between Tehran and Washington, adding that what has been done so far has only been regarding the JCPOA and "we have no contact with the new U.S. government." According to the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, Ghasemi stated on Saturday, March 7, regarding the existence of diplomatic communication between Iran's Foreign Ministry and the foreign policy team of the new U.S. government: "With the end of the JCPOA discussions, political contacts with the U.S. have also ended." Iran's nuclear program during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency led to sanctions and international actions that former U.S. officials described as Tehran's "unprecedented isolation." Nevertheless, a deal was ultimately reached between Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., which limited Iran's nuclear program and lifted nuclear sanctions. Diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S. have been severed since the U.S. embassy was seized in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Iran accuses the U.S. of interfering in its internal affairs and the region, while Washington, rejecting this accusation, has repeatedly accused Tehran of intervening in regional countries and supporting terrorism. In this context, Mike Pence, the U.S. Vice President, on March 7, during a speech at the "Republican Jewish Coalition," stated that "the U.S. government under Donald Trump will never allow Iran to move towards producing nuclear weapons," accusing Tehran of sending money and weapons to its supported terrorist agents in places like Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for a long time. During this period, the U.S. has imposed sanctions against Iran and some Iranian individuals and entities. According to U.S. officials, one of the reasons for these sanctions is "Iran's efforts to produce nuclear weapons." Tehran's missile program and ballistic missile tests have faced strong reactions from several countries, including the U.S. and Israel. Iran claims its missile program is defensive and non-negotiable, but critics reject this argument, pointing to instances such as the capability of some tested missiles to carry nuclear warheads or the slogan "Death to Israel" written on them. The Trump administration and some members of the U.S. Congress have proposed actions and plans aimed at increasing non-nuclear sanctions against Iran. One of these proposals is to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the list of terrorist organizations. In this context, Iran has consistently criticized the sanctions imposed while rejecting U.S. accusations. Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, on Saturday, referring to "the U.S. attempt to sanction the IRGC," stated: "These U.S. movements have never benefited them."