Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Trump’s calls for negotiations with Iran as deceptive, saying, “President of the United States saying that we are ready to negotiate with Iran and inviting us to negotiate is deceiving the world public opinion. This means that we are in favor of negotiations and peace, but Iran is not willing. Why is Iran not willing to negotiate? Take a look at yourselves.”
Khamenei, meeting with university students in Tehran due to Ramadan, pointed to the loss of figures such as former President Ibrahim Raisi, Hezbollah Leader Hasan Nasrallah, Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar who died in a helicopter crash and said, “They are not with us this year. Their absence is a great loss to us, but it has not weakened us. It is not correct to think that Iran is weakened because these valuable figures are absent. I confidently tell you that although the absence of our brothers is a great loss, this year we are stronger on some issues than last year. At least we are not weaker.”
Khamenei criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about being ready to negotiate with Iran, saying, “The President of the United States saying that we are ready to negotiate with Iran and inviting us to negotiate is deceiving the world public opinion. This means that we are in favor of negotiations and peace, but Iran is not willing. Why is Iran not willing to negotiate? Take a look at yourselves.”
Pointing out that the U.S. has not adhered to negotiations in the past and torn up agreement texts, Khamenei said, “We sat down and negotiated for years. The same person tore up the agreement after negotiations were completed, signed, and ended. Why should we negotiate when we know he won’t comply? Therefore, inviting to negotiate and talking about negotiations is deceiving the public.”
Hamaney said, “If Iran had intended to make nuclear weapons, the United States could not have prevented it. It is Iran’s choice not to have nuclear weapons.”
Khamenei said that in the ongoing debates about negotiations with the U.S. within the country, some people ask, “Why don’t you respond? Why don’t you negotiate? Why don’t you sit down with the U.S.?” Khamenei said, “Negotiations with this government will not lift sanctions, on the contrary, it will increase problems and tighten the knot of sanctions.”
Khamenei highlighted that the U.S. put forth new demands and extreme requests during negotiations, saying, “I mentioned this in a meeting with country officials a few days ago. The U.S. presents new demands and expectations. This will exacerbate the problems more than today. Therefore, negotiations do not solve any problem, nor do they untie any knot.”
Khamenei responded to U.S. military threats against Iran, saying, “Starting a war and unilaterally hitting is not possible. Iran has the capability to retaliate and will definitely strike back. U.S. military threats are not wise. If the U.S. and their supporters take a wrong step, they will suffer the most. We are not after war, but if someone takes such a step, our response will be firm and resolute. Iran has the capability to respond to any attack.”