Iran may hold talks if US shows respect, follows rules: Rouhani

Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has indicated that Iran could agree to hold talks if the United States shows respect and follows international rules, but said Tehran would not be coerced into negotiations.
Iran has repeatedly castigated Washington’s withdrawal from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers as a breach of international laws and has condemned US sanctions as attempts to force the Islamic republic into agreeing to talks for a new agreement.
“We favor logic and negotiations if they sit at the negotiation table with full respect and follow international regulations,” Rouhani said.
“Otherwise, we will not be forced into negotiations,” he was quoted as saying.
Rouhani stressed that the Iranians’ resistance will frustrate the enemy.
On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the United States over the existing mutual issues.
“We will not negotiate with the United States as it will be fruitless and a loss,” Khamenei said, adding that negotiations are the “US tactic to complement its pressures policy on Iran.” (Agencies)