In Dubai, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on Saturday that Iran will not be coerced into negotiations, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s mention of sending a letter to Iran’s top authority for discussing a nuclear deal. Trump suggested in an interview with Fox Business that Iran could be dealt with either through military means or through negotiation to prevent its acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Khamenei, in a meeting with senior Iranian officials, criticized Washington’s negotiation offer as a means to impose its own expectations on Iran, according to Iranian state media. He emphasized that Iran will not comply with these expectations, stating that the purpose of some governments’ insistence on talks is not to resolve issues but to introduce new demands beyond the nuclear issue.
While expressing willingness to negotiate with Tehran, Trump has also continued his “maximum pressure” campaign to isolate Iran economically and reduce its oil exports to zero. This approach was initially implemented during his first term as president, which included withdrawing the U.S. from the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.
Following the U.S. withdrawal and reinstatement of sanctions in 2018, Iran exceeded the limits set in the deal, prompting concerns from the U.N. nuclear watchdog about the urgency of imposing new restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Khamenei stressed that Iran must resist coercion and bullying, mentioning that new demands related to defense capabilities, missile range, and international influence will not be accepted. Despite Iran’s insistence that its ballistic missile program is defensive, Western countries view it as a destabilizing factor in the conflict-prone Middle East.
Amid escalating tensions with the U.S. and Israel, Tehran has announced additions to its conventional weaponry, such as a drone carrier and an underground naval base. Time is running out for diplomatic efforts to rein in Iran’s activities, as it continues to enrich uranium to levels near weapons-grade.
(Written by Parisa Hafezi; Edited by Sharon Singleton and Timothy Heritage)
