Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suggested Iran would be willing to hold talks if the US showed respect, while speaking at a meeting with athletes in Tehran on Saturday.
“We are for logic and talks if the other side, respectfully and based on international regulations, sits at the negotiation table, not if it issues an order to negotiate,” said Rouhani.
“We have shown that we never give up against demanding and bullying powers,” he added.
The Iranian President also noted the apparent US climbdown from statements made last year encouraging regime change in Iran.
“The enemy, who last year said that its purpose is to destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran, today is clearly saying that it does not want to do anything to our administration,” stated Rouhani.
Tensions have escalated over the past several weeks, after Rouhani announced Iran would partially withdraw from the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on May 8, one year after the United States withdrew and re-imposed sanctions on Iran.
On Ma 25, the US announced it would send 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East.