Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has reiterated his stance against any future negotiations with the United States concerning Iran’s nuclear program. He cited Washington’s alleged repeated breaches of its promises as the primary reason for this refusal. Khamenei stated, “The side we’re facing [the US] breaks their promises in every matter. They lie, issue military threats, assassinate people, and bomb nuclear facilities. We cannot negotiate and make agreements with such a party.” These statements were made during a broadcast on Iranian state television. Khamenei characterized discussions with the US as “a sheer dead end,” even as diplomatic efforts continue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The remarks were delivered following a meeting involving Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and diplomats from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, along with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. These talks addressed the impending reimposition of sanctions. In his address to the UNGA, US President Donald Trump declared that Iran would “never possess a nuclear weapon” and labeled Tehran as the “world’s number one sponsor of terror.” Khamenei responded, “The US has announced the result of the talks in advance. The result is the closure of nuclear activities and enrichment. This is not a negotiation. It is a diktat, an imposition.” This announcement follows the UN Security Council’s rejection of a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Iran. The E3 have accused Tehran of violating its nuclear obligations, including exceeding the uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Trump withdrew in 2018. The JCPOA, originally signed by Iran and world powers including the US, offered sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. However, Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy reinstated sanctions in 2018, a policy generally maintained by the Biden administration. European nations have suggested they might prolong the sanctions deadline if Iran restarts direct talks with the US, grants UN nuclear inspectors access, and accounts for over 400 kg of enriched uranium under UN monitoring. The meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA yielded little progress, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul describing it as “didn’t go particularly well.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: No Talks with US Due to Perceived Broken Promises
