TEHRAN – Iranian officials have dismissed or condemned President Donald Trump’s latest remarks and actions. He signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday from the president, accusing him of pursuing nuclear weapons, which he approved more serious sanctions against Iran.
In a side job at the Cabinet meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut said that even if Trump attempted a second “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the results resemble the first. “The maximum pressure policy has already proven to be a failure, and trying to revive it will only lead to another defeat,” the top diplomat told reporters.
The maximum pressure campaign was first introduced in 2018 after Trump left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a contract that restricted Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. After the exit, Trump reinstated previous sanctions, strengthened them, and added new sanctions. Subsequent US President Joe Biden maintained his maximum pressure campaign. He said during the 2021 presidential campaign that if the president is elected, he will return to the JCPOA.
When signing the new order on Tuesday, Trump said Iran was promoting new “stricken” measures to “block” the acquisition of nuclear weapons.
However, Trump has not mentioned that Iran has made some new and unprecedented nuclear advances in response to the JCPOA since the Maximum Pressure Campaign began. Analysts believe that more pressure will only force Tehran to further strengthen its nuclear program.
The bystanders of the Cabinet meeting, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Alev and the head of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, were also asked about the new development.
Eslami said, “Iran does not seek, does not seek access to nuclear weapons.” Aleph made a similar statement, adding that Trump’s current policies would not even benefit the United States.
In a meeting with a group of military personnel, Iranian President Masudo Pezeskian spoke briefly about Trump’s moves, saying that even if Washington could lower oil sales, Iran could handle it. The president’s memorandum said it aims to “zero” Iran’s oil exports.