Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran "will not be subjugated and we will solve our problems by relying on the people," in a meeting with intellectuals and elites in the province of Bushehr in Iran, adding that Trump claims he wants to negotiate, yet imposes the "toughest sanctions on Iran."

Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is looking to "establish cordial and friendly relations with our neighbors" and expressed Iran's willingness to negotiate, contrary to the United States claim that Tehran is unwilling to negotiate while restricting Iranians' access to essentials including medicine.

“We do not want anyone to sanction us," Pezeshkian said, adding, “It is not that if the US imposes sanctions on us, we cannot do anything. We will run the country by relying on domestic capabilities," emphasizing Iran's self-reliance.

Trump goes for 'Maximum Pressure' on Iran

Trump promised to reinstate his "Maximum Pressure" campaign and imposed the first sanctions targeting three Iranian oil transport vessels that assisted in the transportation of oil to China, and multiple businesses and people involved in the process.

Trump said that he would prefer to reach an agreement with Iran rather than opt for military action, saying that he "like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it," Trump stated in an interview with The New York Post last Friday.

Trump previously called for negotiations with Iran on a "verified nuclear peace agreement", saying, "I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper," in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Iranian officials responded to Trump's threats; Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that "Trump has said that Iran should not have nuclear weapons; Iran had no intention of obtaining nuclear weapons, does not have and will not have."

Maximum pressure is a failed experiment, and restating it again will lead to the same result, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi who added, "If the main issue is that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons, then this is achievable."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently dismissed the idea of negotiations altogether under the current US strategy which is a form of economic warfare, making "any potential dialogue contingent on Washington shifting its stance."