Iran's foreign minister to Obama: 'Let's try mutual respect'


Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is taking a tough approach to talks about the country's nuclear program.
Zarif posted an English-language YouTube video on Wednesday in anticipation of the July 20 expiration of November's interim agreement, which paused Iran's nuclear program in exchange for eased international sanctions.
"Iranians are allergic to pressure," Zarif says in the video. "Let's try mutual respect."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Zarif cites attacks on Iran's nuclear program that include "the murder of our nuclear scientists" and "the sabotage of our facilities," in addition to "military threats" from the U.S. Meanwhile, officials from the Obama administration want Iran to "dismantle several thousand of its roughly 10,000 centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium into a more fissile form," Time reports.
The Obama administration began talks with Iran last fall in the hopes of reaching an agreement to trade sanctions relief for limits on Iran's ability to build a nuclear bomb. Zarif's video, however, suggests that Iran is pessimistic a deal with be reached by the July 20 deadline.
"To those who continue to believe that sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, I can only say that pressure has only been tried for the past eight years... It didn't bring the Iranian people to kneel in submission and it will not now, nor in the future," Zarif says in the video. Watch Zarif's speech below. --Meghan DeMaria
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
'What is this Hungarian model they so admire?'
Instant Opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 1, 2025
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - trade wars, tax deadlines, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The ETA: how new UK travel rules may affect you
The Explainer Full roll-out of Britain's new travel scheme is designed to be easy, but some have already faced problems
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published