Amir Giti, a reporter for Iran International, in reference to Donald Trump’s remarks about the Islamic Republic’s willingness to negotiate and the impact of economic pressures, said the government would withdraw in response to Trump’s demands only when it sees the financial resources needed to pay its proxy forces, security forces and loyalists, as well as its own economic interests, at risk.

He added that economic pressure on the Islamic Republic has increased, but it has not yet reached the point where the government would “bend its back” in response to Trump’s demands.