Shamkhani: Imam Khamenei’s Non-Response to Trump Reflect Iran’s Logic of «Courtesy for Courtesy»

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian Secretary Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani explained why the Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei gave a response to former US president Barack Obama, but Donald Trump does not merit any exchange of messages.

In an op-ed article, Shamkhani provided reasons why Imam Khamenei had responded to a letter from Obama, but sees no merit in exchanging any messages with Trump, although the US government’s deceptive nature and hostility towards Iran have been the same under all White House rulers.  

“By trampling on all international norms and law, Trump is trying to portray himself as an international racketeer whose behavior is unpredictable, and believes that he can infringe on the Iranian nation’s rights with such method,” the top security official wrote.

He further added: “Although Trump has met some of his financial objectives and fulfilled his sense of self-importance in dealing with some low-level wealthy states of the Gulf, his policies have created a lot of challenges in the international arena.”

Shamkhani concluded that Imam Khamenei’s different reactions to the former and incumbent US presidents reflect Iran’s logic of “courtesy for courtesy” and the policy of humiliating the bullies.

The Leader’s reaction also highlights Iran’s unchanging policy of independence of vote and continuation of active resistance, he noted.