Iran has brushed off concerns about former US President Donald Trump’s stance on nuclear negotiations, telling him to “do whatever the hell he wants” as speculation grows over the future of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The strong statement came from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, who dismissed Trump’s potential return to the White House as irrelevant to Iran’s nuclear policy. “We have seen his policies before, and we are fully prepared for any scenario,” Kanaani said during a press conference in Tehran. “He can do whatever the hell he wants. Iran’s nuclear program is progressing according to our national interests, and no foreign pressure will change that.”
The comments follow Trump’s repeated criticisms of the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts with Iran. Trump, who withdrew the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and reimposed severe sanctions, has vowed to take an even harder stance if re-elected in November. His return could jeopardize ongoing efforts to revive some form of agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran has continued expanding its nuclear program, enriching uranium beyond the limits set by the original deal, while insisting it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. Talks to revive the agreement have stalled, with Tehran demanding full sanctions relief and guarantees that future US administrations will not abandon the deal again.
Despite tensions, Iran’s leadership maintains that US political changes will not dictate its nuclear trajectory. “We do not negotiate under threats or pressure,” Kanaani reiterated. “The era of bullying is over.”
With the US presidential election approaching, the fate of the nuclear deal remains uncertain, with both sides preparing for the potential policy shifts that a Trump victory could bring.
