Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he does not believe ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S. will yield any result, slamming U.S. demands that it end its uranium enrichment program.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments come as tensions between Iran and the U.S. have risen this week over uranium enrichment as both sides prepare for a new round of nuclear talks—with signs that the road for negotiations will be difficult, raising the stakes for a military confrontation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if there is no deal and has increased the presence of its forces in the region.
What To Know
“I don’t think nuclear talks with the U.S. will be bring results. I don’t know,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Washington demands a total halt to Iran’s enrichment capabilities; Tehran is vowing to continue its program, which it says has only peaceful goals, regardless of any agreement.
Khamanei said that the “American side should avoid making nonsense remarks,” in a Tuesday speech, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
Trump had said both sides were close to an agreement while visiting the Middle East last week but accused the Islamic Republic of being a “destabilizing force” in the region, sparking criticism from Iranian officials.
The talks are an attempt to revive diplomacy between two adversaries whose relationship has deteriorated sharply since Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of a 2015 nuclear accord. In his second term, he has reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy hitting Iran with toughened sanctions.
What People Are Saying
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as quoted by Mehr: “Saying things like ‘We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’ is nonsense. No one is waiting for others’ permission. The Islamic Republic has its own policies and methods and will pursue them. At another appropriate time, I will explain to the Iranian people why the Americans and their Western allies insist so strongly on stopping uranium enrichment in Iran. I will make it clear what their real intentions are.”
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: “We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability… Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment.”
Reza Nasri, international lawyer and foreign policy analyst on X: “@SteveWitkoff and the current U.S. administration keep sending different signals privately and publicly on Iran’s right to enrichment. This approach reflects a broader pattern of inconsistency that undermines the integrity and effectiveness of the negotiation process.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. and Iran are yet to announce a date for the next round of talks although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the timing had been determined, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News.
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