Iran urges Trump to change maximum pressure policy

Tehran (Reuters) - The Iranian government has taken an open approach to the election of Donald Trump as US President, denying that it tried to assassinate him and calling on him to change the policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran during his first term in office.

"Trump must show that he is not following the wrong policies of the past," Iranian Vice President for strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters Saturday.

Zarif's comments came after the United States accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of plotting to assassinate Trump. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X on Saturday that the charges were fabricated. "Since killers don't exist in reality, hire a writer to make a third-rate comedy," he said of the American narrative.

Earlier, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman also called the allegations "completely baseless."

Tehran and Washington broke off diplomatic relations shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Zarif is a veteran diplomat who served as foreign minister during the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and Western countries, including the US (Obama administration).

However, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal during Trump's first term as president and subsequently also reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

In response, Iran refused to fulfill its obligations under the nuclear deal and increased uranium enrichment to 60 percent, just 30 percent below nuclear grade.

Zarif said it was Trump's political approach to Iran that had led to the spike in enrichment levels. "He must be aware that the maximum pressure policy he initiated led Iran to increase its enrichment from 3.5 percent to 60 percent and increase the number of centrifuges. As a calculating man, he should do the math and see what the pros and cons of this policy are and whether he wants to continue or change this harmful policy."

Iranian analysts and insiders do not deny the possibility of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Washington after Trump's return to power, but say the two countries have failed to restore diplomatic ties.

"Iran will act according to its own interests," said Teheran analyst Leilaz. Secret talks between Tehran and Washington are possible. If the security threat against Iran is eliminated, anything is possible."

Trump told reporters on Election Day last Tuesday that he was "not going to hurt Iran." "My conditions are very simple. They can't have nuclear weapons. I want them to be a very successful country."

Ahead of the US election, Iran and arch-foe Israel have directly attacked targets in each other's territory, raising fears of a further expansion of the conflict in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The EU stands firmly behind Ukraine

Trump's election victory has also raised fears that the United States will no longer support Ukraine against Russian aggression. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said during a visit to Kiev on Saturday that the EU's support for Ukraine would not be shaken by the change of president in the United States.

Borrell said the purpose of his visit was to express the European Union's strong support for Kiev. "That support remains steadfast," he said.

Kenyan candidate Raila Odinga, who is running to head the African Union Commission, said Africa had "other friends" if Trump did not want to work with the continent.

But Odinga also said he did not want to prejudge Trump, and if he wants to work with Africa as a friend of Africa, we will welcome him and work with him."