Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed appeals for negotiations from what he termed “bully states,” asserting that their aim is not to resolve issues but rather to exert control over others. This comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Khamenei enter into a nuclear agreement.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he had sent a letter to Khamenei, asserting, “There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily or through a deal. I would prefer to make a deal because I don’t want to harm Iran.”
He added, “I hope you’re going to negotiate because it would be much better for Iran,” warning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to more serious actions since “you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”
It remains uncertain if Khamenei received the letter, but his remarks, while not directly mentioning Trump, clearly convey a firm rejection of external pressure.
“The persistent insistence of some bully states on negotiations is not aimed at resolving issues but rather at imposing their own expectations and dominance,” Khamenei stated on Saturday, according to Iranian state media. He emphasized, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will absolutely not accept their demands,” during a meeting with leaders from the three branches of government in Tehran.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran and ordered a military strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.
Since his return to office, Trump has reinstated a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, aimed at isolating the nation both economically and diplomatically.
While Trump has expressed interest in negotiating a new deal with Iran, Khamenei’s stance has been mixed, as he indicated last month that talks with the United States were “not wise.”
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes.
Earlier this week, during a meeting with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia has expressed its willingness to take part in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
