Khamenei's Rhetoric on Increasing 'Missile Precision' Despite Trump's Emphasis on Negotiation

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's emphasis on negotiation, the provocative rhetoric of Ali Khamenei and officials of the Islamic Republic continues; a trend that has led to the continuous decline of the national currency's value and turmoil in financial markets, putting the Iranian government at risk of economic collapse. On Wednesday, February 24, Khamenei stated at the 'Power 1403' exhibition, where ballistic and cruise missiles and various drones were displayed, that 'we should not be satisfied,' adding, 'If at one time we considered a certain level of precision for missiles and today we need to increase it, this must be done.' The leader of the Islamic Republic also referred to the February 22 rallies, marking the 1979 Revolution anniversary, which observers noted were poorly attended, as 'a popular uprising and a great national movement'; a description that was mocked by the Israeli account on X by sharing an image of three middle-aged men tightrope walking at the government celebration. Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the Islamic Republic government, also accused the U.S. and Israel of 'destabilizing the region' and referred to Trump's conditions for negotiation, stating, 'They say [the Islamic Republic] Iran is a terrorist and must stop terrorism and should not have missiles and weapons.' Khamenei's emphasis on increasing the precision of the Islamic Republic's missiles and the rhetoric of other government officials against the U.S. comes at a time when most provinces in Iran have faced extensive closures of government offices and educational centers for several days, with the threat of economic collapse due to the fall of the Iranian currency against the U.S. dollar and the intensification of the livelihood crisis provoking many reactions. Additionally, due to frequent power outages and gas shortages, industries and production in industrial towns have also faced serious disruptions. On Tuesday, the Islamic Republic's representative at the United Nations described Trump's statements about the Iranian government as 'deeply concerning' and condemned the U.S. policy of 'maximum pressure.' In an interview aired on Fox News on Monday, Trump presented two options, 'bomb or deal,' to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons, stating, 'I would prefer a deal that does not harm them. I would like to reach an agreement with Iran without bombing.' However, Khamenei responded to Trump's proposal for a peaceful and verifiable nuclear agreement by deeming negotiations with the U.S. 'useless,' stating, 'No problem will be solved through negotiation with the U.S.' On the other hand, Prince Reza Pahlavi stated in a message to Iranians that 'the Islamic Republic is in its weakest and most ineffective days, and regional and global developments have also presented us with a historic opportunity. But this window of opportunity is not everlasting.' Ilan Berman, a senior vice president at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, noted in an interview that Khamenei's refusal to negotiate with the U.S. will not help him or his government. Khamenei praised Pezeshkian's stance against Trump.