Iran tells US ‘do whatever the hell you want’ for coercing it into a nuclear deal

Iran has dismissed the possibility of engaging in nuclear negotiations with the US under coercion, with President Masoud Pezeshkian rejecting talks while facing threats and telling Washington to “do whatever the hell you want.”

His stance aligns with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s opposition to pressure-based diplomacy, as Iran denied receiving a letter from US president Donald Trump proposing new talks and instead issued a series of statements countering Washington’s approach.

China, seeking to mediate amid the renewed standoff, has scheduled a diplomatic meeting with Russia and Iran, which will be chaired by Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Beijing, although specific details regarding the agenda remain undisclosed.

While Iranian media has framed the meeting as an effort to explore diplomatic avenues, it coincides with the US administration’s attempts to revive a nuclear agreement while continuing economic measures aimed at isolating Tehran. The United Nations nuclear watchdog has reported Iran’s rapid advancements in its nuclear programme in recent years.

Trump, while expressing a preference for a diplomatic resolution, has warned Iran of potential military consequences should it refuse negotiations, asserting that Tehran must either engage in talks or face a direct challenge to its nuclear activities.

As part of a broader pressure campaign reminiscent of Washington’s previous strategy, the administration has intensified economic measures by revoking a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran. The US State Department has justified the move as a step towards ensuring that Iran is denied any form of economic relief while urging Baghdad to reduce its reliance on Iranian energy imports.

Iranian officials have dismissed the nuclear proposal, denouncing the US strategy as an attempt at intimidation rather than genuine diplomacy, while reiterating that Iran’s nuclear programme remains strictly peaceful and will not be subjected to external dictates.

Khamenei has framed the pressure for negotiations as an attempt at domination rather than a solution-oriented dialogue, arguing that the demands extend beyond the nuclear issue and set conditions that Iran will not accept.

Meanwhile, military cooperation between Iran, China, and Russia has been on display through joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating strategic alignment amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional conflicts.

The exercises, named “Maritime Security Belt 2025,” included live-fire drills and attracted international observers, reinforcing Beijing and Moscow’s ties with Tehran despite their limited military presence in the region.

China, as a major buyer of Iranian oil, and Russia, as a recipient of Iranian drones for its war in Ukraine, have continued to deepen their partnerships with Iran, counterbalancing US efforts to isolate the country.