CHESS MATCH: Iran Fires Back At Trump, Says Iranians Are "Professional Chess Players"

Tehran responded to President Donald Trump's characterization of his approach to Iran as a chess game by asserting that Iranians have demonstrated strategic sophistication. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated: "Lights out or lights on, Iranians showed they are professional chess players."

The remarks followed Trump's comments to Axios describing his Iran strategy as measured and pressure-focused. Trump said he was "low-keying it" With Iran while allowing economic pressure to build, noting: "We are only semi-negotiating with them... It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game."