US Threatens to ‘Curb Malign Iranian Behavior’ If They Don’t Accept Talks

Iran says they won't accept talks not on equal footing

US Ambassador Kelly Craft took to the UN today to offer negotiations with Iran, adding that the US will do everything in its power to “curb malign Iranian behavior” if they don’t accept the talks.

Iranian officials were quick to reject this, with Ambassador Majir Takht Ravanchi saying that the offers for talks were disingenuous, and Iran would not accept talks “under the threat of a sword” and wants an equal footing.

This is the exchange, almost verbatim, between US and Iranian officials several times over the course of the year. The US clearly doesn’t intend to make an equitable approach to talks, but wants to couch its consistent threats as being offers to talk.

The UN has urged the US to dial back limits on Iranian diplomats who work at the UN. The US has not directly responded, but added new visa restrictions earlier in the day, suggesting changes are unlikely.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.