Apr 20, 2020

Iranian officials have denounced US President Donald Trump’s comments that the United States is ready to help the country fight the coronavirus.

Ali Rabiei, spokesman for the Hassan Rouhani administration, speaking about Trump’s recent statements that if Iran wanted aid to fight the coronavirus outbreak they can “ask for it,” said, “This comment by the president is a personal opinion and we have said multiple times that for us it does not make a difference who lives in the White House.” Rabiei said that the difference with Trump is that he makes accusations due to “his inability to cooperate with the world and his incorrect understanding of regional issues and domestic [US] issues.”

Rabiei said that even if a Democrat becomes president, “we will not have talks if they do not stop the bullying, sanctions and assassinations.” He added, “Our recommendation to America is rather than finding the same culprits — correct your path.” He also reiterated Iran’s position that the United States return to the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany under the nuclear deal that the United States exited in May 2018.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also rejected any talks with the United States, calling it “an illusion” to think Iran would enter negotiations with the United States. The ministry's spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said at a press conference that the United States cannot be trusted to stick to its commitments and think it can take advantage of Iran’s positions fighting a pandemic to negotiate. He added that while the United States is currently short of medical supplies Washington claims it wants to help Iran with ventilators.

Rather than receive help from the United States, Mousavi said, “If there are items for which we do not have a domestic need, we are ready to help the American people.”