Tehran rules out talks unless U.S. changes approach

Reacting to a U.S. offer to engage with Iran without pre-conditions, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that Tehran expected a change in U.S. behavior rather than “word-play."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran does not pay attention to word-play and expression of hidden agenda in new forms. What matters is the change of U.S. general approach and actual behavior toward the Iranian nation," the Mehr news agency cited Mousavi as saying.

"Pompeo’s emphasis on the continuation of maximum pressure on Iran is the same old wrong policy that needs reform," the spokesman added.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday the United States is prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions about its nuclear program but needs to see the country behaving like "a normal nation."