Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday questioned the United States’ sincerity in seeking negotiations with Tehran as crowds of people, many chanting “Death to America”, rallied across the country to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
U.S. 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.
Trump said however 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, said: “If the U.S. were sincere about negotiations, why did they sanction us?”
He said Tehran “does not seek war…but will not yield to foreign pressure”.
Iranian state television showed 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 U.S. 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 U.S.-backed Shah and swept the Shi’ite Muslim clergy to power.