Iran’s Leader: U.S. Negotiation Tactics Are Dictation, Not Dialogue; Iran Will Not Surrender Its Nuclear Achievements
In a major televised speech, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, addressed key issues regarding the 12-day war and Iran’s nuclear energy program.
A summary of the most important points is as follows:
The 12-Day War
“The enemy’s primary goal was not merely to target military commanders — that was just a means. They believed that by assassinating military leaders and influential figures, unrest would erupt, especially in Tehran, where their agents would incite chaos and draw people into the streets to act against the Islamic Republic. Their ultimate aim was to destabilize the system, provoke street riots, mobilize factions, and uproot Islam from the country. This plan failed in its early stages. The unity and solidarity of the Iranian people during the 12-day war shattered the enemy’s hopes.”
Nuclear Energy and Negotiations with the U.S.
“Under current circumstances — though things may change in 20 or 30 years — negotiating with the U.S. government does not serve our national interests. It brings no benefit and does not remove any harm. On the contrary, such negotiations today pose serious risks to the country, some of which may be irreversible. The American side has already predetermined the outcome: they want talks that end with Iran dismantling its nuclear activities and enrichment. That is not negotiation — it is dictation, it is imposition. Sitting down to negotiate with a party that insists the result must be exactly what they demand — is that really negotiation?!
We have not and will not surrender to pressure — not in this matter (uranium enrichment) nor in any other. The American side is adamant that Iran must abandon enrichment altogether. Previous administrations demanded we limit enrichment or not keep enriched material inside the country — which we also rejected. Now he [Trump] says there should be no enrichment at all. What does that mean? It means erasing a major national achievement — one that took immense effort, cost, and sacrifice. To abandon enrichment is to discard all that. Clearly, a proud nation like Iran will reject such demands outright.”
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