Iran International
Some Iranian politicians maintain that Tehran’s military strength is deterring the United States as tensions fester between President Donald Trump and the Islamic Republic.
Former parliament member Ezzatollah Yousefian said on Friday that “Trump does not want to go to war with Iran because he knows Iran’s missile power can obliterate an entire country.”
Yousefian also reiterated that Iran will not accept to take part in any negotiation in a situation marked by arrogance.
Another former lawmaker, Mohammad Hassan Asafari, told a local conservative website, “Trump has realized that Iran is now speaking with one voice and that no one in Iran will accept negotiations under threats and arrogance.” He added that Trump’s decisions on Iran are influenced by the latest developments in Iran’s domestic political climate.
Despite Asafari’s claim of unity, many political figures in Tehran have been asking for a change in foreign policy and negotiations with the United States.
Asafari also urged Tehran to stand firm against Trump, saying, “Trump is accustomed to using fear and intimidation in negotiations, but Iran is aware of his tactics and will not bow to arrogance or threats.”
Addressing Trump’s statement about allowing Israel to attack Iran if Tehran refuses to negotiate over its nuclear program, Asafari said, “If we stand firm, Trump will back down, but if we show division, he will exploit it.” He also echoed Yousefian’s statement that Iran’s missile power is substantial, adding, “If Israel makes a miscalculation, confronting Iran will not be easy.”
Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles against Israel twice in 2024, causing minimal damage as most were intercepted by Israeli, US and other allied air defenses and warplanes.
Yousefian also noted that “Trump constantly contradicts himself to confuse his opponents, which reflects a businessman’s mentality.” He added, “He is committed to protecting Israel, but no one can predict the tactics he will use to achieve that.”
Trump’s objective goes beyond preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons; he aims to disarm the country entirely, Yousefian argued. He explained that Trump is increasing pressure on Tehran to force it to the negotiating table, adding, “Unlike Biden, Trump is not a patient man and will not spend two years on negotiations. He wants quick results; otherwise, he will exert more pressure.”
In another development, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi emphasized that the Foreign Ministry “will act within the frameworks set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for interaction with America.” He deliberately used the term “interaction” instead of “negotiation,” reflecting Khamenei’s firm opposition to talks with the United States.
During an interview with an Iraqi network on a recent visit to Baghdad, Ravanchi criticized the US for failing to uphold its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. He noted that Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 after Iran declined to engage in new talks on its nuclear program and regional military ambitions. Ravanchi added that Iran is now focused on pursuing discussions with Europe.
In another development, prominent Iranian lawmaker Ali Keshvari criticized the United States, saying, “The US has a poor track record in its previous negotiations with Iran,” and accused it of “easily undermining its obligations.”
Keshvari also accused the US of “unilateralism when dealing with independent countries,” arguing that “the US seeks only to serve its own interests and secure concessions without offering any in return.” He added, “The US has employed this approach in its negotiations with many other countries,” although he did not specify which ones.
The surge, marked by a monthly inflation exceeding 4% for the first time in the past year, has exacerbated the widespread public discontent, especially as food prices skyrocket. Hundreds of Iranian have sent messages to Iran International complaining about soaring prices.
Official data reveals that food costs are the primary driver of inflation, with rural areas experiencing a higher rate (36%) than urban centers (35.2%). Low-income households are bearing the brunt of this economic strain, particularly in provinces like Semnan, West Azarbaijan, and Hormozgan.
"The point-to-point inflation rate, indicating how much household expenses have changed compared to last year, reached 35.3% in the Persian calendar month of Bahman (ended on February 18)," said the Statistical Center. "This marks the highest inflation rate in 12 months."
Vegetables and legumes saw a staggering 16.9% monthly inflation, while fruits and nuts rose by 8.7%. Conversely, education saw the lowest monthly inflation, below 1%.
Annual inflation has risen by around 40 percent, each year in the past five years, and the rial has lost 95% of its value since 2018 when Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and re-imposed draconian sanctions on the country.
The massive depreciation of the rial and high inflation have drastically increased the cost of living, including expenses for food, housing, and healthcare and driven over 30 percent of the population below the poverty line.
Citizens engaging with Iran International have corroborated these findings, sending videos depicting a sharp rise in essential goods prices.
