Speaking to Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV Network, Shamkhani pointed to the Washington government’s use of threats and sanctions and said the US is not used to negotiating.
However, he added, before speaking of any talks with Iran, the US administration should compensate for the violation of its obligations and damages it inflicted on the country.
The Americans believe that negotiations are part of their pressure campaign and not a possible solution to the problems, the top security official noted.
Shamkhani went on to say that the Americans use “all instruments of pressure and psychological warfare” before any talks.
The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.
