Iran will never negotiate with the United States under preconditions that threaten its national security, said an Iranian international relations expert.
The preconditions put forward by Washington include a halt to Iran's nuclear program, limits on its ballistic missiles, and an end to its support for regional proxy groups, according to media reports.
Arash M. Akbari, the expert, said talks with the U.S. would never take place unless the U.S. revokes these preconditions.
"If we are going to deal with our ballistic missiles, our national security is getting threatened. So [negotiations on] our ballistic missiles capability and negotiations on our defensive capabilities (are) out of the table. And if America is not willing to get rid of that preconditions, in my opinion, any talks would never happen. Or if they happen, there will be no results," said Akbari.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that a "massive armada," led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, is heading toward Iran, warning that "time is running out" for Tehran to reach a deal with the United States.
Akbari said that Iran has the right to respond if U.S. military operations affect the maritime safety of any Iranian vessels in the Middle Eastern waters.
"They are trying to build some sort of a blockade, as a barrier through the Hormuz Strait, from Persian Gulf to Oman Sea and to international waters. And they are trying to pressure Iran's economy, that is the first objective of this presence. They will fail it. Any act of blockade is an act of war, an act of aggression. And the country, who this act of aggression is imposed on, does have the right to react immediately, respectively, and proportionately," he said.
Iran will never talk with US under preconditions threatening national security: expert
