Trump on lifting sanctions to negotiate with Iran: ‘No Thanks’

President Trump responded to reports that Iran wants U.S. sanctions to be lifted before any negotiations by saying “No Thanks!”

The president tweeted in English and later in Farsi on Saturday that U.S. sanctions would not be lifted after Iran’s foreign minister expressed openness during an interview with Der Spiegel to talks if the sanctions were removed.

“Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran wants to negotiate with The United States, but wants sanctions removed. @FoxNews  @OANN No Thanks!” Trump tweeted.

Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran wants to negotiate with The United States, but wants sanctions removed. @FoxNews @OANN No Thanks!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020

Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, later instructed Trump to read his interview with the German magazine, posting an excerpt and saying “Too many words? Then just read this.”

“.@realdonaldtrump is better advised to base his foreign policy comments & decisions on facts, rather than @FoxNews headlines or his Farsi translator,” he tweeted. 

.@realdonaldtrump is better advised to base his foreign policy comments & decisions on facts, rather than @FoxNews headlines or his Farsi translators

To be better informed, he can read my entire interview (in English) https://t.co/eZR8NzuWXV

Too many words? Then just read this: pic.twitter.com/URkbUll49P

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 26, 2020

Zarif said in the excerpt that he will “never rule out the possibility that people will change their approach and recognize their realities.”

“We’re still at the negotiating table,” he said. “They’re the ones who left.”

“The U.S. has inflicted great harm on the Iranian people,” he added. “The day will come when they will have to compensate for that.”

The already tense relationship between Washington and Tehran was strained in the past month after Trump ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.  Iran later responded by striking Iraq bases housing U.S. soldiers.

The latest developments follow Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S.  from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimpose sanctions on Tehran.