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In an interview with the Financial Times published on Monday, Takht-Ravanchi said coercion and intimidation against the Islamic Republic over its peaceful nuclear program would prove ineffective.<\/p>\n
He expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump doesn\u2019t repeat the same mistake he made during his first four-year presidency.<\/p>\n
Back in May 2018, then-President Trump pulled the United States out of the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers in pursuit of a confrontational approach, which he called the \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d campaign, toward the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n
At the time, Trump promised to bring Iran\u2019s oil exports to zero, claiming that he would bring Iran to the negotiating table to negotiate a \u201cbetter deal\u201d than the one reached under his predecessor, Barack Obama. However, he failed to reach any of his professed goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Trump administration decides to pursue the maximum pressure policy in the oil market again, it will surely fail,\u201d Takht-Ravanchi said. \u201cIn today\u2019s world, no single country can dictate terms to the entire international community.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also made clear that Iran favors negotiations, as it proved with the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. \u201cBut who sabotaged the negotiations previously? It was the Trump administration who was unwilling to negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the same time, the top Iranian diplomat warned that if Trump again takes a tough approach, \u201cmaximum pressure will be met with maximum resistance\u201d.<\/p>\n
Takht-Ravanchi also suggested that it is premature to speculate whether Tehran and Washington would be able to initiate constructive negotiations on the nuclear issue and regional developments.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs for negotiations, we need to observe US policy and decide how to respond accordingly,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cRight now, the key question is how the new administration will approach Iran, the nuclear issue, regional security and [West Asia].\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, he said, \u201cWe will continue to work around sanctions, diversify our trade partners and strengthen regional relations to maintain calm.\u201d<\/p>\n
MNA\/<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n