Trump Says ‘Iran Never Won a War, but Never Lost a Negotiation’ Amid Persian Gulf Escalation

The statement comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday that Iran had rejected his proposal to visit Tehran to address the Iranian people.

US President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to claim that despite Iran never winning a war; the Islamic Republic “never lost a negotiation”. He did not elaborate.

The remarks followed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arguments on Monday that Iran did not accept his offer to go to Tehran and address the Iranian people.

Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019

"I recently offered to travel to Tehran and speak directly to the Iranian people. The regime hasn't accepted my offer", he tweeted.

Last week Trump admitted that "it is getting harder for me to make a deal with Iran", he seemed to refer to the new agreement to replace the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Pompeo had pointed out that Trump is interested in talks with Iran but that he also wants to change Tehran's "behaviour".

US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, for his part, argued that Trump is sincere in his overtures to Iran to negotiate a new nuclear agreement. Hook added that Trump would be happy to sit down with Iran's leadership although Tehran has rejected diplomacy on many occasions.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in turn, signalled Tehran's willingness for talks with the US but stressed that Washington should first scrap sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

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"We are always ready for negotiation. I tell you this hour and this moment to abandon bullying and lift the sanctions and return to logic and wisdom. We are ready", Rouhani pointed out earlier this month.

He added that Iran had shifted its approach from "strategic patience" to "reciprocal action" and would respond in kind to any of Washington's steps related to the nuclear deal.