Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei condemned U.S. threats and urged dialogue, rejecting the notion of dominance in negotiations. Following Trump’s letter urging renewed talks about Iran’s nuclear program, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran had yet to receive any official communication from the U.S. regarding such discussions. Khamenei criticized the alleged unrealistic conditions set forth by the U.S. and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to a peaceful nuclear program, disputing claims of non-compliance with the JCPOA.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized the alleged intimidatory tactics employed by the United States and expressed that the negotiations initiated by former President Donald Trump are not genuine efforts to resolve issues but are rather aimed at asserting dominance over Iran. Khamenei made these remarks in response to Trump’s recent communications urging negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program, coupled with threats of military action should Iran refuse dialogue.
On the recent developments, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that as of Saturday, no correspondence from Trump had been received by Iran. He confirmed awareness of Trump’s outreach but emphasized that Iran had not yet been approached directly through any official letter.
Khamenei accused the so-called ‘bullying powers’ of creating unrealistic conditions for negotiations, anticipating that Iran would not meet these expectations. He refrained from naming the United States explicitly but implied the nation’s role in these challenging negotiations. Furthermore, Araghchi clarified that Iran would not engage in talks while being subjected to maximum pressure, a strategy reinstated by Trump upon returning to office in January which had resulted in the reimposition of severe sanctions.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), established in 2015, had previously provided Iran with relief from such sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities. Iran, meanwhile, has been involved in diplomatic discussions with European nations party to the agreement, including Britain, France, and Germany, aiming to address concerns related to its nuclear ambitions. Khamenei later criticized these three governments for asserting that Iran had not adhered to its obligations under the JCPOA, questioning them about their compliance.
With the Iranian parliament’s recent legislation leading to significant increases in uranium enrichment beyond JCPOA thresholds, U.S. officials have assessed that Iran could potentially produce a nuclear weapon within weeks if it chose to do so. However, Iran continues to assert its commitment to a peaceful nuclear program, backed by a religious decree from Khamenei forbidding the development of nuclear weapons. Khamenei has expressed his reluctance towards negotiations with the U.S. and deemed such propositions unwise, emphasizing the previous violation of the JCPOA by the United States.
The possibility of U.S.-Iran talks has been repeatedly dismissed by Khamenei, who has stated that he does not regard Trump as someone worthy of communication. This rejection follows past diplomatic encounters, including an attempt by the then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, to mediate negotiations in 2019 after Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
Khamenei’s recent statements underscore a significant resistance to U.S. negotiations aimed at controlling Iran’s nuclear program, highlighting a broader perspective on the power dynamics in international relations. He has reiterated Iran’s commitment to its stance while criticizing the U.S. for its actions regarding the JCPOA. The escalating enrichment of uranium by Iran raises concerns among U.S. officials over the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for clear diplomatic channels to reduce tensions.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
