Ayatollah Khamenei denounced US military threats and bullying tactics regarding negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. He emphasized that negotiations should not aim for domination and criticized European nations for their claims of Iran’s non-compliance with the JCPOA. Khamenei reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to a peaceful nuclear agenda and resistance against pressures to negotiate under coercive conditions.
On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned what he termed bullying tactics from foreign leaders, specifically in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent military threats against Iran. Khamenei characterized these leaders as “bully governments” and stated that their insistence on negotiations aims not to resolve problems but to achieve domination over Iran.
Following Trump’s threat on Friday, which included a letter urging new discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, Khamenei responded that bullying powers aim to impose expectations that Iran will not meet. He refrained from directly naming the United States but emphasized that Iran would not negotiate under conditions of maximum pressure, a policy reinstated by Trump upon his return to office.
The maximum pressure policy followed the 2018 US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an accord established in 2015 that provided sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts with European nations aimed at addressing nuclear issues, Khamenei criticized these countries for claiming that Iran had not fulfilled its JCPOA commitments.
During the meeting, Khamenei asserted that Iran had complied with its commitments for a year, attributing the subsequent rollbacks to domestic legislative changes. He reiterated Iran’s stance that its nuclear program is peaceful, citing a religious decree that forbids the development of nuclear weapons. Additionally, Khamenei expressed his opposition to negotiations with the United States, highlighting Trump’s previous failure to honor the 2015 agreement.
In previous diplomatic attempts, such as in 2019, Japan’s then-prime minister Shinzo Abe sought to mediate between Iran and the US, yet Khamenei firmly rejected any discussions with Trump, deeming him unworthy of exchange.
Overall, the stance articulated by Khamenei reflects a persistent reluctance to engage with the US under the current pressures, emphasizing Iran’s commitment to its nuclear program under international agreement frameworks while firmly asserting its independence from perceived bullying tactics.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks underscore Iran’s steadfast position against perceived bullying by foreign governments, particularly the United States. He rebuffed Trump’s military threats and maintained that any negotiations under duress would not yield genuine outcomes. Iran’s commitment to its nuclear program remains, as it continues to criticize external claims regarding compliance with international agreements. Khamenei’s aversion to negotiations with the US signals a critical stance that may further complicate diplomatic relations moving forward.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
