Khamenei Rejects U.S. Talks, Deepening Iran’s Internal Divide as Nuclear Standoff Escalates
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared on Friday that negotiating with the United States is “not intelligent, wise, or honorable,” contradicting recent signals from Tehran that suggested openness to diplomatic talks.
His comments follow President Donald Trump’s suggestion of renewed discussions over Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief. Despite Khamenei’s firm stance, he did not explicitly ban negotiations, leaving room for possible diplomatic maneuvers.
The Iranian rial took a sharp hit following his remarks, sinking to a record low of 872,000 rials per U.S. dollar in aftermarket trading.
Mixed Signals on Diplomacy
Khamenei’s statement clashes with recent commitments from Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had just expressed willingness to engage with the West. This further highlights the deep divide between Iran’s reformist leaders and its hardline factions, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The supreme leader, who has carefully navigated diplomatic engagement in the past, cited Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal as a key reason for his distrust.
“The Americans did not uphold their end of the deal,” Khamenei said. “We negotiated, we gave concessions, we compromised. but we did not achieve the results we aimed for.”
His remarks indicate that Iran remains skeptical about re-entering negotiations, even as the U.S. ramps up pressure.
Trump’s Take: Sanctions and the ‘Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement’
Khamenei’s comments come after Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign on Iran, signaling a tough stance while simultaneously floating the idea of a new deal.
“We don’t want to be tough on Iran… But they just can’t have a nuclear bomb,”
Trump stated while signing an executive order earlier in the week.
Despite his firm words, Trump downplayed speculation of military action, dismissing reports of a coordinated U.S.-Israel strike against Iran.
“I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper,”
he wrote on Truth Social.
Nuclear Concerns Mount
While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, its uranium enrichment has now reached 60% purity— dangerously close to the 90% needed for weapons-grade material.
President Pezeshkian, however, assured foreign diplomats that Iran remains open to enhanced inspections from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“They can come and inspect one hundred times more since we are not supposed to go after a nuclear weapon,” Pezeshkian stated.
Despite these assurances, Iranian officials have increasingly hinted that Tehran could pursue a nuclear weapon if deemed necessary.
Khamenei Responds to Trump’s Gaza Proposal
Beyond nuclear tensions, Khamenei also dismissed Trump’s controversial idea to resettle displaced Palestinians from Gaza and transform the war-torn region into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“The Americans sit, redrawing the map of the world— but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality,” he said.
The supreme leader warned that any threats against Iran would be met with equal force, stating:
“If they violate the security of our nation, we will, without a doubt, respond in kind.”
U.S. Enforces New Sanctions on Iran’s Oil Trade
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry slammed new U.S. Treasury sanctions targeting firms that facilitate the sale of Iranian crude oil to China.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the move “completely unjustified and contrary to international rules.”
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