USA: Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic Will Continue if No Agreement is Reached

Following recent statements by Araqchi that "the Islamic Republic does not negotiate under pressure, threat, and sanctions," a spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House told Voice of America that Trump has warned the Islamic Republic by reinstating the maximum pressure policy and is committed to ensuring that this government never acquires nuclear weapons. He emphasized that Trump is ready to negotiate with Iran to reach a comprehensive agreement that covers all outstanding issues between the two countries. In this context, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State also told the Persian section of Voice of America that if the Islamic Republic is not willing to reach an agreement, it will remain under the maximum pressure campaign. He added that the President of the United States is committed to preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons while also expressing his readiness to negotiate. These statements were made in response to comments by Abbas Araqchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, who stated at a press conference in Tehran that "there will be no possibility of direct negotiations with the U.S. on the nuclear issue as long as maximum pressure continues." Araqchi also emphasized that "Tehran will pursue its policies in coordination with Russia and China." In this meeting, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, also claimed that there is still diplomatic capacity to resolve the JCPOA issue and that it should be utilized without threats and pressure. He stressed that Russia hopes and will strive to find solutions. Earlier, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, after meeting with Lavrov in an interview published on X, said: "The Iranian regime should never acquire nuclear weapons to hold the world hostage or threaten Israel." He emphasized that Donald Trump's policy is clear, and during his presidency, Iran will never become a nuclear power. On February 5, Trump resumed the "maximum pressure" campaign against the Islamic Republic by signing an executive order. This order blocks Tehran's pathways to acquiring nuclear weapons and counters the Islamic Republic's regional influence. Additionally, the document states that Washington will not tolerate the Islamic Republic's support for terrorism, especially against U.S. interests.