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Iran Disparages U.S. Over Sanctions Iran Disparages U.S. Over Sanctions
(32 minutes later)
President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday called the White House “mentally retarded” and vowed that Tehran would not be intimidated by American threats and sanctions.President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday called the White House “mentally retarded” and vowed that Tehran would not be intimidated by American threats and sanctions.
John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, separately accused Iran of being “a source of belligerence and aggression” across the Middle East.John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, separately accused Iran of being “a source of belligerence and aggression” across the Middle East.
Mr. Bolton, who was in Jerusalem to meet with the national security advisers of Israel and Russia, renewed the Trump administration’s demands that Tehran commit to abandoning any efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, the “pursuit of ballistic missile delivery systems” and what he called “its malign behavior worldwide.” Their remarks made it clear that Washington and Tehran remained locked in a standoff despite President Trump’s last-minute decision to call off a missile strike against Iran in retaliation for the downing of an American surveillance drone last week.
Their remarks, made it clear that Washington and Tehran remained locked in a standoff despite President Trump’s last-minute decision to call off a missile strike against Iran in retaliation for the shooting down of an American surveillance drone last week. Mr. Trump ordered new sanctions this week that are intended to pressure Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior Iranian officials this week. But on Tuesday, Mr. Rouhani dismissed the new penalties as pointless and vowed that Iran would not bow to American demands.
Although Mr. Bolton restated the Trump administration’s calls for talks with Iran — “the president has held the door open to real negotiations,” he said — neither side showed any willingness to bend from its demands, and the caustic tone of their remarks further diminished the already remote prospect that talks would take place.
“Today, the Americans have become desperate and confused,” Mr. Rouhani said, speaking in a televised address. “This has made them take unusual measures and talk nonsense.”“Today, the Americans have become desperate and confused,” Mr. Rouhani said, speaking in a televised address. “This has made them take unusual measures and talk nonsense.”
Mr. Bolton, who was in Jerusalem to meet with the national security advisers of Israel and Russia, renewed the Trump administration’s demands that Tehran commit to abandoning any efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has said that all its nuclear work is for peaceful civilian purposes.
Mr. Bolton also said Iran must give up the “pursuit of ballistic missile delivery systems” and what he called “its malign behavior worldwide.”
Although Mr. Bolton restated the Trump administration’s calls for talks with Iran — “the president has held the door open to real negotiations,” he said — neither side showed any willingness to bend, and the caustic tone of the remarks further diminished the already remote prospect that talks would take place.
Other Iranian officials have questioned the intelligence of the White House before. But Mr. Rouhani’s engagement in the slinging of insults was significant because, in the context of the Iranian political system, the president has been regarded as a moderate who was relatively open to negotiations with Washington.Other Iranian officials have questioned the intelligence of the White House before. But Mr. Rouhani’s engagement in the slinging of insults was significant because, in the context of the Iranian political system, the president has been regarded as a moderate who was relatively open to negotiations with Washington.
The Trump administration is punishing Iran with crippling economic sanctions that American officials say are intended to force Tehran to agree to new limits on any effort to develop nuclear weapons, on its pursuit of ballistic missiles and on its support for allied militias around the region.The Trump administration is punishing Iran with crippling economic sanctions that American officials say are intended to force Tehran to agree to new limits on any effort to develop nuclear weapons, on its pursuit of ballistic missiles and on its support for allied militias around the region.
But Iranian officials have denounced the sanctions as “economic warfare” and refused hold any talks while they remain in place. Instead, Iran has said it will take steps that will soon violate the 2015 nuclear deal it reached with the United States, Russia, China and several European nations. But Iranian officials have denounced the sanctions as “economic warfare” and refused hold any talks while they remain in place. Instead, Iran has said it will take steps that will soon exceed limits set in the 2015 nuclear deal it reached with the United States, Russia, China and several European nations.
Iran had accepted limits on its nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief under the agreement, but Mr. Trump withdrew the United States from the deal last year in order to start his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which is intended to force Iran into a more restrictive pact.Iran had accepted limits on its nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief under the agreement, but Mr. Trump withdrew the United States from the deal last year in order to start his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which is intended to force Iran into a more restrictive pact.
The Trump administration tightened its sanctions six weeks ago in an effort to cut off all international sales of Iran’s oil, the lifeblood of its economy, setting off a steep escalation in tensions.The Trump administration tightened its sanctions six weeks ago in an effort to cut off all international sales of Iran’s oil, the lifeblood of its economy, setting off a steep escalation in tensions.
The United States has accused Iran of lashing back by using naval mines to damage six tankers in the waters of the Persian Gulf, allegations Mr. Rouhani has denied.The United States has accused Iran of lashing back by using naval mines to damage six tankers in the waters of the Persian Gulf, allegations Mr. Rouhani has denied.
Iran, however, boasted last week of shooting down the American surveillance drone. The United States has said that the drone was in international air space, while Iran maintains that the aircraft was over its territory.Iran, however, boasted last week of shooting down the American surveillance drone. The United States has said that the drone was in international air space, while Iran maintains that the aircraft was over its territory.
Nikolai Patrushev, Mr. Bolton’s Russian counterpart, supported Tehran’s account, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. “I have information from the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation that the drone was in Iran’s airspace at the time,” Mr. Patrushev said on Tuesday in Jerusalem, where he was attending the same summit meeting as Mr. Bolton.Nikolai Patrushev, Mr. Bolton’s Russian counterpart, supported Tehran’s account, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. “I have information from the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation that the drone was in Iran’s airspace at the time,” Mr. Patrushev said on Tuesday in Jerusalem, where he was attending the same summit meeting as Mr. Bolton.
He did not explain how the Russian military knew the whereabouts of the drone and said he had not discussed the question with Iran. “We haven’t received any other evidence,” he added.He did not explain how the Russian military knew the whereabouts of the drone and said he had not discussed the question with Iran. “We haven’t received any other evidence,” he added.
The Trump administration on Monday added new sanctions that target Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and some senior military figures. The sanctions block them from entering the United States or using its financial institutions. The sanctions added this week are intended to prevent Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, and other officials from entering the United States or using the international banking system. But the move is largely symbolic.
Mr. Rouhani ridiculed the effort, noting that the supreme leader never visits the United States or does business with it.Mr. Rouhani ridiculed the effort, noting that the supreme leader never visits the United States or does business with it.
“Tehran’s strategic patience does not mean that we are afraid,” Mr. Rouhani said, according to the Mehr news agency. “We do not fear America, and have shown restraint so far.”“Tehran’s strategic patience does not mean that we are afraid,” Mr. Rouhani said, according to the Mehr news agency. “We do not fear America, and have shown restraint so far.”
Trump administration officials have insisted that the United States is prepared to reopen negotiations with Iran as soon as Tehran is willing. But Mr. Trump has often sounded notably more flexible about such talks than the officials he has appointed to advise him, like Mr. Bolton, the national security adviser, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Trump administration officials have insisted that the United States is prepared to reopen negotiations with Iran as soon as Tehran is willing. But Mr. Trump has often sounded notably more flexible about such talks than the officials he has appointed to advise him, like Mr. Bolton, the national security adviser, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
On Tuesday, Mr. Bolton appeared to simultaneously invite Iran into negotiations while demanding complete capitulation.On Tuesday, Mr. Bolton appeared to simultaneously invite Iran into negotiations while demanding complete capitulation.
Accusing Iran of a “continued pursuit of deliverable nuclear weapons” despite the deal reached in 2015, Mr. Bolton said that Mr. Trump now sought “real negotiations to completely and verifiably eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program, its pursuit of ballistic missile delivery systems, its support for international terrorism and its other malign behavior worldwide.”Accusing Iran of a “continued pursuit of deliverable nuclear weapons” despite the deal reached in 2015, Mr. Bolton said that Mr. Trump now sought “real negotiations to completely and verifiably eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program, its pursuit of ballistic missile delivery systems, its support for international terrorism and its other malign behavior worldwide.”
“All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door,” Mr. Bolton said.“All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door,” Mr. Bolton said.
Mr. Rouhani and other Iranians have said the mixed messages and coercive tactics from the Trump administration belie its professed desire to negotiate.Mr. Rouhani and other Iranians have said the mixed messages and coercive tactics from the Trump administration belie its professed desire to negotiate.
Still, the history of the Trump administration’s foreign policy suggests that a sudden reversal remains, even after a relative moderate like Mr. Rouhani has called the White House “mentally retarded.” Still, the history of the Trump administration’s foreign policy suggests that a sudden reversal remains a possibility, even after caustic barbs from a relative moderate like Mr. Rouhani.
Mr. Trump has at times shown a remarkable willingness to move past an exchange of insults. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un called the president “mentally deranged” and a “dotard” only a short time before Mr. Trump plunged eagerly into one-on-one talks with his North Korean counterpart. Mr. Trump has at times shown a remarkable willingness to move past an exchange of insults. After President Trump threatened to destroy North Korea with “fire and fury,” the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, responded by calling Mr. Trump “mentally deranged” and a “dotard.” Months later, the two leaders met for face-to-face talks.