Zarif's Reaction to Pompeo: America Must Accept That It Has Lost Iran

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, reacted on Thursday, January 10, to the remarks of his American counterpart, who stated, "Whenever America retreats, chaos ensues." Zarif emphasized that the opposite is true. He wrote on Twitter: "Whenever and wherever the United States intervened, chaos, repression, and discontent arose." He added, "The day Iran wants to imitate the human rights model of America's clients and Pompeo – and be like the Shah or one of the current butchers – to be considered a 'normal' country will never come. The best thing for America is to come to terms with having lost Iran." Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, once again targeted the Iranian government in a speech in Cairo, calling it a 'ruthless' regime whose 'evil' has spread beyond the country's borders and into the Middle East. Pompeo emphasized that the 'Trump administration stands with the people of Iran, as they seek freedom and accountability, and they deserve it.' The Trump administration reinstated sanctions against Tehran after withdrawing from the nuclear agreement made by world powers with Iran during Barack Obama's presidency. The U.S. is demanding a change in the behavior and policies of the Islamic Republic and claims it is ready to negotiate with Tehran. However, Iranian officials have so far rejected the request for renewed negotiations with the U.S. Washington's conditions for reaching a new agreement with Iran include the suspension of uranium enrichment, halting missile programs, and non-interference in the wars in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.