Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphatically ruled out the possibility of engaging in negotiations with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme, accusing Washington of consistently violating its commitments.
“The side we’re facing [the US] breaks their promises in every matter. They lie, issue military threats, assassinate people, and bomb nuclear facilities. We cannot negotiate and make agreements with such a party,” Khamenei said, addressing the nation on Iranian state television.
Tehran reiterated on Tuesday that it will not directly negotiate with the US, describing any potential talks as “a sheer dead end,” even as diplomatic discussions continue on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Khamenei’s remarks came shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with diplomats from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (the E3), alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to discuss the reimposition of sanctions set to take effect soon.
“The US has announced the result of the talks in advance. The result is the closure of nuclear activities and enrichment. This is not a negotiation. It is a diktat, an imposition,” Khamenei stated.
Tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme have escalated since the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under Donald Trump’s administration and reimposed sanctions. European nations have expressed willingness to extend sanctions relief if Iran resumes talks, grants UN inspectors access to nuclear sites, and accounts for its enriched uranium stockpile.
However, Tuesday’s UNGA-side meeting yielded little progress, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul describing the discussions as having “not gone particularly well.” Khamenei’s statement signals Iran’s continued hardline stance, rejecting direct engagement with the US while diplomatic efforts by European mediators remain ongoing.