Dollar Reaches 91,000 Tomans; Islamic Republic Leaders Support Khamenei's Stance on No Negotiation

Various officials of the Islamic Republic supported Ali Khamenei's remarks about not negotiating with the United States, with the Speaker of Parliament stating that a "dichotomy of negotiation yes, negotiation no" should not be created. Meanwhile, the price of each US dollar crossed the 90,000 toman mark on Sunday morning, February 10, which is about 5,000 tomans higher than the dollar price before the Supreme Leader's remarks two days ago regarding no negotiation with the US. Each euro was traded at 94,000 tomans and the price of each British pound reached 112,000 tomans. The price of each Imam Khomeini design coin also exceeded 77 million tomans on Sunday. Ali Khamenei stated on February 8 that negotiating with Donald Trump's administration is "not wise, not intelligent, not honorable." Senior officials of the Islamic Republic on February 9 praised Khamenei's remarks, emphasizing the stance against negotiating with the US. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, said he expects the government of Masoud Pezeshkian to work based on the "instructions conveyed" by the Leader. He also criticized the creation of a "dichotomy of negotiation yes, negotiation no" and stated that the essence of Khamenei's remarks is "different from these statements." Hours before the Speaker's remarks, Masoud Pezeshkian also praised the "beautiful words of the Leader" and called for reliance on "domestic capabilities and resources." The Judiciary's website also published a report reiterating the recent positions of its head regarding the "lack of benefit for the country from negotiating with the US." State media praised the Supreme Leader's stance on not negotiating, stating that his remarks pertain only to negotiations with the US. Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, emphasized that the Islamic Republic is ready for negotiations but will not negotiate with the US "under maximum pressure." He acknowledged that sanctions are a "major obstacle" to Iran's economic development and stated that if negotiations are conducted from a position of weakness, "it is no longer negotiation but surrender." Araghchi also stressed the need to lift sanctions through negotiation and interaction, calling it a "national duty." The Speaker of Parliament and several other officials claimed that the text of Donald Trump's presidential memorandum indicates that the United States seeks to "disarm the Islamic Republic." On February 5, Trump signed a presidential memorandum calling for a return to the "maximum pressure" policy against Iran but emphasized that he was hesitant to sign this memorandum and hopes it will not be necessary to use it. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the text of this memorandum indicates that "the issue is no longer nuclear; they said nuclear, missile, asymmetric and conventional weapons." He added that this means "disarming the Islamic Republic." The text of Trump's presidential memorandum contains his executive orders to revive the maximum pressure policy, including the cancellation of existing sanctions exemptions and achieving a campaign to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. However, part of this memorandum emphasizes preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, countering Iran's destabilizing activities in the region, keeping the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the resources it needs for destabilizing activities, and countering Iran's aggressive development in missile and other asymmetric and conventional weapon capabilities as a general policy. Several individuals close to the Supreme Leader, including Mohammad Javad Larijani and Hossein Shariatmadari, also claimed on Saturday during television programs that the US "does not believe in negotiation" and has proposed negotiations based on its assessment of Iran's "very weak situation." After Khamenei's remarks about no negotiation with the US, some social media users pointed out the consequences of these remarks, recalling that Masoud Pezeshkian had stated during the elections that if he could not fulfill his promises, he would resign. However, Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for Pezeshkian's government, stated on Saturday that the rumors regarding the President's resignation "are not even worth responding to." Elias Hazrati, head of the government's information council, attributed the rumor of Pezeshkian's resignation to "political rivals" and said the aim of raising it is to "weaken the foundations of the government and create a sense of despair." About a month ago, Masoud Pezeshkian stated in New York during an interview with NBC that Iran is fundamentally ready to negotiate with Donald Trump's administration. In recent days, Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to meet with the Iranian President, stating that the United States is seeking a verifiable nuclear agreement with Tehran, and such an agreement could lead to peaceful prosperity for Iran. At the same time, on Saturday, the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran gathered thousands from across Europe in Paris to show their support for increasing pressure on the Iranian government. In this rally, which was attended by several European politicians, including a former Prime Minister of Belgium, Maryam Rajavi, as the head of the National Council of Resistance, which is considered the political branch of the People's Mujahedin, called on the international community to "stand with the people of Iran instead of accommodating the regime" in Tehran.