President Rouhani noted that “these unprecedented [U.S.] sanctions, which have been the toughest sanctions on Iran as they say, were imposed to bring us to our knees, and not only the U.S., which is a terrorist state, but also other countries thought that it could happen to Iran”. “Despite all these economic pressures and unfair sanctions”, he added, “the Iranian nation kept their dignity and endured the hardships, showing that they will not let enemies achieve their goals”. Rouhani further maintained that “the private messages and requests for negotiations they are sending are contrary to what they announce publically, which Europeans, who are intermediaries, are well aware of”.