Tehran has said Iranians had shown “they are professional chess players” in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump comparing his dealings with Iran to the board game, AFP reports.
“Lights out or lights on, Iranians showed they are professional chess players,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press conference.
Trump had earlier been quoted by news outlet Axios as saying he was “low-keying it” with Iran.
“We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” he said.
“It will work out. It always works out. It’s like a chess game,” Trump added.
Baqaei also reiterated that “as long as the US naval blockade continues… as long as other violations by the US continue, the necessary conditions for saying that the Strait of Hormuz has become a safe waterway will not exist”.
