President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran issued a resounding rejection of international arm-twisting on Saturday, promising no submission in nuclear dealings with the US. In a state TV address, he stated, ‘Powers of the world stand in line to bend us… yet we won’t lower our heads amid their obstacles.’
Escalating drama unfolds with Trump’s saber-rattling: threats of targeted strikes paired with unprecedented naval reinforcements to Middle East waters. This pressure cooker follows Geneva parleys, yielding a consensus on drafting a deal, per Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He projected a 2-3 day turnaround for handover to US negotiator Steve Witkoff, while disputing US demands to halt enrichment.
Trump’s ultimatums – 15 days for compliance or peril – were capped by his Friday admission of pondering strikes. Naval theater intensifies: USS Gerald R. Ford’s Mediterranean entry Friday trails the January Gulf positioning of USS Abraham Lincoln and fleet.
Pezeshkian’s speech galvanizes domestic support, portraying Iran as victim of hegemony. With proposals pending and armadas arrayed, stakes soar. Will cooler heads forge peace, or will brinkmanship prevail? Iran’s firm no signals prolonged impasse ahead.