Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently responded to US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s question about why President Trump had asked him why Iran was not subservient to Washington’s demands, saying, “Because we are Iranians.”

In a post on his X page on Sunday, Araghchi said, “Iranians are the reason why Iran is not subservient to Washington’s demands.” “Because we are Iranians,” he replied.

In an interview with Fox News, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump wants to know why Iran is under pressure.

The special envoy said Trump wants to know why the US has deployed a fighter jet to the region but “has not given up.”

"The president asked me this morning. I don't want to say he discouraged. Because he knows they have a lot of options. But he want to know why they didn't give up; why they didn't agree."

Witkoff said the Trump administration wants Iran to demonstrate that it will not develop nuclear weapons and to outline concrete steps to ensure that it does.

The comments came before the two countries met for a third round of talks. The two countries met in Geneva, Switzerland, last Tuesday, under the auspices of Oman.

The US has been warning of possible attacks after it deployed a warship to the Middle East.

Iranian students at various universities across the country took to the streets to protest.