Iran refuses talks under ‘intimidation’ as Trump ups pressure

Iran has firmly stated that it will not engage in negotiations under coercion, following a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to escalate economic pressure by terminating a sanctions waiver that had permitted Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran.

While Iran’s mission to the United Nations had hinted at the possibility of talks to address U.S. concerns about its nuclear program, Iranian officials quickly dismissed any notion of concessions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made it clear that Tehran sees its nuclear program as entirely peaceful and will not entertain discussions under external pressure.

Through a statement on social media, Araghchi reinforced that Iran refuses to negotiate under intimidation, asserting that discussions would not even be considered under such conditions, regardless of the subject.

Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has reinstated his administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, reimposing extensive sanctions primarily aimed at crippling the country’s oil sector. The latest decision to revoke Iraq’s sanctions waiver aligns with this approach, with the U.S. State Department emphasizing the goal of preventing Iran from gaining any economic relief.

Economic and Energy Ramifications for Iraq

The revoked waiver, originally introduced in 2018 when Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, allowed Iraq to continue importing Iranian gas and electricity—essential for sustaining its national power grid. Iran supplies roughly one-third of Iraq’s energy, a crucial revenue stream that Washington now aims to cut off.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad has urged Iraq to find alternative energy sources and reduce its reliance on Iranian imports. However, despite its vast oil and gas reserves, Iraq remains heavily dependent on energy imports, and the decision is expected to exacerbate the country’s ongoing electricity shortages, particularly affecting its 46 million residents.

Baghdad has stated that it has prepared for “all scenarios” in response to the waiver’s expiration. Analysts suggest Iraq could mitigate some of the impact by increasing imports from Turkey or seeking alternative energy arrangements. However, this shift may take time, and energy supply disruptions are likely, especially during peak summer months when demand surges.

Meanwhile, the broader U.S. objective remains unchanged—curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, restricting its ballistic missile program, and severing its financial support to militant groups. U.S. officials estimate that, if it chose to pursue nuclear weapons, Iran could now develop one within mere weeks.