Clear message from Iran to Trump: We do not trust the US

Ibrahim Azizi, one of Iran's senior politicians, drew attention to the ongoing mutual distrust between the two countries, stating that the sincerity they expect from the US has not been seen so far. In an interview with CNN, Azizi evaluated US President Donald Trump's recent remarks regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement and reported that existing obstacles remain.

Azizi pointed out that the release of frozen Iranian assets and nuclear issues have been among the topics that have overshadowed relations for years. Stating that it is difficult to make progress without a change in the US stance on these issues, Azizi said, "If we can be sure that they are willing to negotiate and will abide by the rules of negotiation, Iran will have no problem advancing negotiations, as it possesses the logic of negotiation and dialogue."

On the other hand, stating that they doubt the sincerity of the US administration in the process of turning a temporary ceasefire into a final settlement, Azizi emphasized that Trump's previous approaches were also not found to be "honest" by Iran and said, "Despite this, we have repeatedly said that we accept negotiations as a continuation of the battlefield. We see negotiations as a part of the war."

Regarding the existing uncertainties, Azizi underlined that they do not see a real will for an agreement on the US side. Pointing out that no practical step has come from Washington regarding the release of frozen funds, the Iranian official provided information that nuclear topics are not currently on the agenda in the contacts.

When asked about the possibility of a permanent peace agreement between the two countries, Azizi said, "If these behaviors continue, no. We have no trust in them at all," underlining that the process will proceed entirely depending on the actions of the US administration.

News Source: 12punto