NNA – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that his country is ready to engage in dialogue quot;on an equal footingquot; with the United States, without specifying whether Tehran could participate in direct talks, according to Agence France-Presse.

Pzeshkian#39;s position comes after US President Donald Trump, who had previously urged Tehran to engage in direct talks about its nuclear program, threatened to bomb Iran if diplomatic efforts failed.

Iran has expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue but has refused to engage in direct talks under threat and pressure.

On Thursday, Trump said he prefers quot;direct talksquot; with Iran.

quot;I think it would be better to hold direct negotiations,quot; he told reporters. quot;The pace is faster and you can understand the other side better than when you use mediators.quot;

On Saturday, Pezeshkian asked, quot;If the other side wants to negotiate, why are they threatening?quot; according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

quot;Today, America is humiliating not only Iran but the world as well,quot; the Iranian president said, apparently referring to Trump#39;s policies, including the imposition of tariffs on imported goods.

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