US President Donald Trump has said Washington is engaged in negotiations with Iran while simultaneously maintaining economic and political pressure on Tehran, accusing Iranian officials of using “cunning” tactics during the talks.

Speaking to Real America’s Voice, Trump claimed that Iranian negotiators sometimes agree to provisions during negotiations and later publicly deny having accepted them. His remarks came as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain overshadowed by deep disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and US sanctions.

Trump said the United States was pursuing three parallel approaches toward Iran. According to the US president, Washington is monitoring Iran’s situation, applying military pressure and continuing an economic pressure campaign regardless of the negotiations.

The remarks highlight the contradictory nature of Washington’s approach, with the US publicly expressing an interest in negotiations while continuing to threaten Tehran with further pressure.

Trump also made a series of sweeping claims about Iran’s economic situation, alleging that the country is suffering from 300% inflation, that its national currency is nearly worthless and that the government is struggling to meet payments to its military personnel. Trump did not provide evidence for these figures during the interview.

He further claimed that the United States controls a significant amount of Iranian money and assets, underscoring the leverage Washington seeks to maintain through its sanctions regime.

Trump once again insisted that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, while sharply criticizing the nuclear agreement negotiated during Barack Obama’s presidency.

He described the 2015 nuclear agreement as “disastrous” and claimed that Iran would have eventually obtained a nuclear weapon had he not withdrawn the United States from the accord.

Iran has consistently rejected allegations that its nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons and has maintained that its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful purposes, including energy production and scientific research. Tehran has also repeatedly argued that its nuclear rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must be respected.

Iranian officials have long criticized Washington’s policy of combining negotiations with sanctions and threats, arguing that such pressure undermines diplomacy and damages prospects for a sustainable agreement.

Trump’s latest comments therefore come against a backdrop of continued tensions between Tehran and Washington, with negotiations facing significant challenges over sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear activities and guarantees regarding any future agreement.

Despite the hostile rhetoric, Trump’s acknowledgment that the United States is engaged in negotiations with Iran indicates that diplomacy remains an important avenue for addressing the long-running confrontation. For Tehran, the removal of sanctions and respect for Iran’s sovereignty and internationally recognized rights remain central issues in any potential settlement. (ILKHA)