Iran’s Pezeshkian questions sincerity of Trump’s desire to negotiate new nuclear deal

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian questions the United States’ sincerity in seeking negotiations with Tehran as crowds of people, many chanting “Death to America,” rally across the country to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

US President Donald Trump last week restored his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that includes efforts to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and tightened sanctions. At the same time, however, he said that he was open to a deal with Iran and expressed a willingness to talk to Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian, in a televised speech at Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, says: “If the US were sincere about negotiations, why did they sanction us?”

He says Tehran “does not seek war… but will not yield to foreign pressure.”

Iranian state television shows hundreds of thousands of people turning out to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution in a rally the clerical establishment billed as a chance to show unity amid mounting US and Israel pressure.

“Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” shouted demonstrators in cities and towns across Iran, repeating the ritual chant of the revolution which toppled the US-backed shah and swept the Shiite Muslim clergy to power.