Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic Reiterates Opposition to Any Negotiation with the U.S.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, on Sunday, during a meeting with participants of the nationwide conference of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, emphasized that any negotiation with the United States is futile and an obstacle to progress, citing "absolute distrust towards America." Khamenei described idealism and absolute distrust as a result of rationality and stated that the IRGC's duty is not only to ensure internal and external security but also to play a significant and impactful role in areas such as "construction, development, serving the underprivileged, cultural and artistic issues, and producing revolutionary thought." According to Khamenei, the enemy's goal in negotiations is to prevent the Islamic Republic's presence in the region, as the only means of removing threats is, according to him, "creating fear and terror in the enemy." Mehdi Mahdavi-Azad, a journalist and political analyst in Germany, commented on Khamenei's statements to Radio Farda, stating that they reflect a clear demarcation from the policies of Hassan Rouhani's government and its approach to engagement with the outside world. Khamenei also mentioned that he has "no concerns about the future" and that "Iran will have a pioneering and exemplary role in global developments." Majid Mohammadi, a sociologist and analyst in the U.S., remarked that it is important to understand what Khamenei means by the future of Iran. The 22nd nationwide conference of IRGC commanders and officials began on Saturday in Tehran. In this conference, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the IRGC commander, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Hossein Salami, Deputy IRGC Commander, Ali Saidi, representative of the Supreme Leader in the IRGC, and Sadegh Amoli Larijani, head of the judiciary, all emphasized distrust towards the enemy.