Iranian Ambassador to Japan Morteza Rahmani Movahed on May 17 commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to seek dialogue with Iran amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. The ambassador expressed a negative view, saying, “I don’t take it seriously.” He also added that the U.S. first needs to restrain the anti-Iran hardliners within its government and the aggressive stance of Israel and Saudi Arabia, which are hostile toward Iran.

The ambassador spoke with The Nikkei and other media outlets at the Iranian embassy in Tokyo. The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear pact with Iran and has been stepping up sanctions and putting military pressure on Iran. “We’ll never be the first to start a war,” underscored Rahmani, expressing a sense of distrust toward the U.S. (Abridged)