President Rouhani's interview, live, on Iranian television on Monday nigh
Iran Press- Just 3 to 4 hours after president Rouhani's interview, live, on Iranian television on Monday night, the Reuters news agency published on its website a selection of Rouhani's comments. Reuters wrote: "In a televised address, Rouhani said there could be no talks as long as Washington was reneging on the deal."
“If you stab someone with a knife and then you say you want talks, then the first thing you have to do is remove the knife,” Rouhani said.
“We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks ... But talks need honesty,” Rouhani said. “Trump’s call for direct talks is only for domestic consumption in America ahead of elections ... and to create chaos in Iran.”
European allies tried and failed to persuade Trump not to walk out of the 2015 agreement, under which Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions. Rouhani said Washington would come to rue a move that had been rejected by other countries.
“America will regret imposing sanctions on Iran ... They’re already isolated in the world. They are imposing sanctions on Iranian children, patients and the nation,” he said.
Agence France-Presse ( AFP ) also headlined president Rouhani's comments. AFP wrote on its website : "Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was unimpressed with Donald Trump's offer (of talks). If you're an enemy and you stab the other person with a knife, and then you say you want negotiations, then the first thing you have to do is remove the knife."
Rouhani added: "They want to launch psychological warfare against the Iranian nation. Negotiations with sanctions doesn't make sense."
China's Xinhua news agency also reported a selection of president Rouhani's televised comments. Xinhuanet.com reported : "President Hassan Rouhani said Monday that Iranians would make the United States regret re-imposition of sanctions against the Islamic Republic".
Rouhani also said that the U.S. administration "is not trustworthy for any negotiations" after its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.
"Talks need honesty," the Iranian president said , adding: "Negotiations with sanctions don't make sense."
Rouhani noted that Trump's recent call for direct talks with Iran was only a ruse aimed at creating division within the country.
Rouhani: U.S. administration "is not trustworthy for any negotiations"
Russia's English-language television channel, Russia Today (RT ) also focused on president Hassan Rouhani's televised interview.
RT reported: "Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani has slammed US President Donald Trump’s offer for direct talks as a disingenuous PR stunt for domestic consumption while the 'untrustworthy' Washington only increases its sanctions against Tehran."
"In his first public statement since Trump signed an executive order reinstating sanctions against Tehran, Rouhani said that he will not negotiate with Washington while being sanctioned at same time, describing such tactics as “psychological warfare [against] the Iranian nation,” adding that “Trump’s call for direct talks is only for domestic consumption in America ... and to create chaos in Iran.”
The Iranian president said that while his government favored dialogue, such talks required 'honesty'.
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