VIENNA — Iran pushed back Wednesday against U.S. demands for concessions at nuclear talks, declaring it would never “kneel” in regard to what curbs Tehran must accept to win an end to the sanctions choking its economy.
Both Iran and the six world powers it is negotiating with want an accord by July 20. But they parted last month without significant progress — and went to the table Wednesday with demands that the other side blink first.
“We have never bowed down to imposition and we will not accept it in this round of talks either,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in Vienna.
Separately, he warned the West against “pursuing a game of chicken,” saying sanctions would never force Tehran to its knees.