Iran has declared that it will not negotiate under “intimidation” after US President Donald Trump ended a sanctions waiver that allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran.
The move is part of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program and reducing its influence in the region. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, firmly rejected the possibility of negotiations under such conditions, stating that Tehran’s nuclear program is and always will be entirely peaceful.
On Monday, Araghchi took to social media platform X to assert Iran’s position, saying, “We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation. We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be.” This statement came after Iran’s mission to the United Nations had suggested on Sunday that Tehran might be open to discussions addressing US concerns about the potential militarization of its nuclear program, though it ruled out dismantling the program entirely.
The Iranian mission’s statement on Sunday had struck a more conciliatory tone, stating, “If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-a-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration. However, should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program to claim that what (President Barack) Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place.”
The US State Department announced on Sunday that it would not renew Iraq’s sanctions waiver, a decision intended to deny Iran any economic or financial relief. Iran currently supplies a third of Iraq’s gas and electricity, generating significant revenue for Tehran. A spokesman for the US embassy in Baghdad urged Iraq to reduce its reliance on Iranian energy, stating, “The President’s maximum pressure campaign is designed to end Iran’s nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop it from supporting terrorist groups.”
The waiver for Iraq was introduced in 2018 when the US reimposed sanctions on Iran after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under Obama. The landmark agreement had promised sanctions relief in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear activities. Although Tehran initially adhered to the deal after Trump’s withdrawal, it has since rolled back its commitments. US officials now estimate that Iran could build a nuclear bomb within weeks if it chose to do so.
Iraq, despite its vast oil and gas reserves, remains heavily dependent on Iranian energy imports. The Iraqi government has stated that it has prepared “for all scenarios” regarding the waiver’s expiration. However, the decision is expected to exacerbate power shortages in Iraq, affecting the daily lives of its 46 million citizens. Gulf analyst Yesar Al-Maleki of the Middle East Economic Survey noted that Iraq will face significant challenges in providing electricity, particularly during the summer months. To mitigate the impact, Iraq may explore options such as increasing energy imports from Turkey.
Trump’s decision to end the waiver aligns with his broader strategy of isolating Iran economically and diplomatically. The move has drawn criticism from European allies who had supported the 2015 nuclear deal, arguing that it effectively curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Despite the pressure, Iran has remained defiant, insisting on its right to a peaceful nuclear program and refusing to negotiate under duress.
