Khamenei's Opposition to Negotiating with the U.S.: 'It Won't Solve the Problem'

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, claimed on Friday, February 8, that 'negotiating with the U.S. does not solve the country's problems.' Previously, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, had stated that he would like to have a verified nuclear peace agreement with the Iranian government. Khamenei asserted that the 'fruitless experience of about two years of negotiations with the U.S. in the 1990s' did not mention the continuation of Iran's nuclear program or the adventurous policies of the Islamic Republic. In his remarks made to a group of officers from the Islamic Republic's Air Force, he discussed the 'reason for the U.S. being an exception in negotiations,' stating, 'Some (inside Iran) pretend that if we sit at the negotiating table, a certain problem will be solved,' but 'negotiating with the U.S. has no effect on resolving the country's problems.' He referred to Trump's action during his first term in office in withdrawing from the JCPOA, adding, 'Negotiating with such an irrational, unwise, and dishonorable government is unreasonable and should not be done.' Khamenei had previously indicated on February 1, regarding a possible negotiation between Tehran and Washington, that 'we must be careful about who we are facing and with whom we are negotiating and talking.' Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, had recently written in an article for Foreign Affairs that 'an agreement can be reached with the Trump administration.' Axios news outlet also reported a few days ago, citing European diplomats, that the Islamic Republic had clearly expressed interest in starting negotiations aimed at reaching a new nuclear agreement different from the JCPOA and stated that it was waiting for a proposal and plan from the United States. Khamenei's remarks on Friday came as Trump stated on Wednesday, February 6, that he would like to have a verified nuclear peace agreement with the Iranian government. He emphasized on his social media platform, Truth Social, that 'I want Iran to be a great and successful country, but one that should not have nuclear weapons,' adding, 'Reports claiming that the United States, in cooperation with Israel, intends to destroy Iran are greatly exaggerated.' Trump also suggested that instead of military action, a new nuclear agreement with the Iranian government should be signed, stating, 'I would prefer to have a peaceful and verifiable nuclear agreement that allows Iran to grow and flourish peacefully.' He stressed the need for immediate negotiations and proposed holding a large regional celebration after the agreement is signed. Trump added, 'We must work on this immediately, and when the agreement is signed, we will hold a grand Middle Eastern celebration. God bless the Middle East!' The new message from the U.S. President was released a day after his statements in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the signing of a new order to impose 'maximum pressure' on the Islamic Republic.