Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out negotiations with the US while under pressure, telling President Donald Trump to “do whatever the hell you want,” Iranian state media reported on Tuesday. His remarks come amid rising tensions over renewed US sanctions and Washington’s push for fresh nuclear talks.
Despite Pezeshkian’s firm stance, Iran’s foreign policy decisions rest with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on diplomatic matters. Earlier this month, Pezeshkian voiced personal support for negotiations but acknowledged that talks would not happen without Khamenei’s approval.
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President Trump announced on Friday that he had sent a letter to Khamenei, urging new discussions on Iran’s nuclear program while warning of potential military consequences if Tehran refused. In response, Khamenei dismissed the proposal, accusing the US of attempting to impose its will rather than seeking genuine diplomatic solutions.
“Some bully governments—I really don’t know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying—insist on negotiations,” Khamenei said, arguing that such talks are designed to extract broader concessions beyond the nuclear issue, including Iran’s military and regional influence.
Tehran has repeatedly refused to engage under the United States’ “maximum pressure” policy, which was reinstated when he returned to office in January. The approach, first implemented during Donald Trump’s initial term, saw the US withdraw from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and reimpose severe economic sanctions. The agreement, which Iran signed with major world powers, had lifted sanctions in return for restrictions on its nuclear program.