Khamenei's Strong Attack on America: 'I Do Not Agree with Negotiations Under the Shadow of Threats'

The leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized that he does not agree with negotiations that are 'under the shadow of threats' and urged Iran's nuclear negotiating team to 'defend the greatness and dignity of the Iranian nation... and not to succumb to any imposition, force, humiliation, or threats.' According to the website of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he stated on Wednesday, April 16, during a meeting with a group of teachers: 'Just a few days ago, two official U.S. officials threatened that we would carry out a military attack; firstly, you are wrong. Secondly, I said during the previous U.S. president's time when he was threatening that the era of hitting and running is over.' He added: 'The Iranian nation does not let go of anyone who attacks.' The leader of the Islamic Republic stressed: 'It is unacceptable that while negotiations are ongoing, the other side constantly threatens.' Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President, on Thursday, April 10, described an attack on Iran as 'risky' which 'is still a possibility' that the U.S. might accept. Before that, Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had warned Tehran that despite Moscow's decision to transfer the S-300 missile system to Iran, the military option to deter Tehran from 'acquiring nuclear weapons' remains in place. Following these remarks, Khamenei responded on Sunday, April 30, stating that 'the other side shamelessly' continuously threatens Iran militarily, and he remarked that 'they make this additional mistake and then say that the Islamic Republic does not have defensive capabilities.' On Wednesday, Hossein Salami, the Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that war with Iran 'will mobilize the Islamic world against America.' In his remarks, the leader of the Islamic Republic also urged Iran's negotiating team to 'strictly adhere to the red lines and main points' in negotiations with the 1+5 group and added: 'God willing, they will not cross these lines.' He also mentioned that the Americans are 'desperately in need' to say that 'we brought Iran to the negotiating table and imposed some issues on it' to have a 'significant point' in their record. Khamenei emphasized: 'We desire that the negotiations reach a conclusion and the sanctions be lifted, but this does not mean that if the sanctions are not lifted, we cannot manage the country.' On Wednesday, April 9, he also acknowledged that Western sanctions have caused 'problems' in the country but emphasized that 'the key to solving economic problems is not in Lausanne, Geneva, or New York.' Khamenei also referred to Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen, stating that America supports what he called 'this great crime.' He stressed that America has 'no reputation among the nations of the region' and added: 'The Americans shamelessly support the massacre of the Yemeni people, but accuse Iran, which seeks to provide medical and food assistance to the people of Yemen, of intervening in this country and sending weapons.' The leader of the Islamic Republic added: 'The Yemenis do not need our weapons; all military bases in Yemen are under the control of the Ansarullah group.' Khamenei had previously described U.S. support for Saudi bombings in Yemen as 'a sample of destabilizing behavior in the world.' Iran's relations with Saudi Arabia, especially in recent weeks, have soured over Yemen, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Saudi chargé d'affaires in Tehran twice in the past two weeks to protest the attacks on the Houthis and to prevent Iranian planes from landing in Sanaa.