Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic Rejects Negotiation with the U.S.; 'No Problem Can Be Solved by Negotiation'

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic rejected negotiations with the United States regarding the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions, while acknowledging the 'problems of the country.' Ali Khamenei stated that negotiating with Donald Trump's administration is 'not wise, not intelligent, and not honorable.' In a speech on Friday, February 8, addressing commanders of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Islamic Republic Army, he pointed out that Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA during his previous administration and the failure to lift sanctions meant that negotiations with such a government 'have no effect on resolving the country's problems.' This comes as Trump, who has repeatedly expressed readiness to negotiate with the Islamic Republic, stated two days ago that the United States is seeking a verifiable nuclear agreement with Tehran that would allow the country to thrive peacefully. Trump also reiterated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and emphasized the need to act immediately to achieve a new agreement, suggesting that once this agreement is finalized and signed, 'the Middle East will celebrate.' Khamenei, however, dismissed the notion that sitting at the negotiation table would resolve any issues, stating, 'No, negotiations with America will not solve any problems.' He referred to the history of the Islamic Republic's agreement with global powers after nearly two years of negotiations under the JCPOA in 2015, noting that 'the Americans did not adhere to that treaty, and the very person who is currently in power tore up the agreement.' Iran and six global powers reached an agreement in July 2015 to resolve Iran's nuclear file, but Trump exited the agreement in May 2018 during his first term and imposed severe sanctions on Iran, launching a campaign of 'maximum pressure' against it. This campaign included increasing economic pressure through hundreds of sanctions, severe criticism of human rights conditions in Iran, and actions such as the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Nevertheless, Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to negotiate in his new administration, emphasizing that the key point in new negotiations is that the Islamic Republic should not possess nuclear weapons. Khamenei acknowledged the country's problems, particularly economic issues affecting 'almost all segments of the population,' but claimed that 'the solution to these problems lies in internal factors.' He identified this internal factor as 'the commitment of responsible officials and the solidarity of the united nation,' adding that the manifestation of this will be the government-organized rally on February 11. Recently, many officials and political figures in the Islamic Republic have implicitly or explicitly welcomed negotiations with Trump's administration, with Masoud Pezeshkian, the President, stating on Thursday that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons and that 'verifying this issue is not difficult. Whenever they have wanted, they have come and checked. They can come and check a hundred more times.' He also mentioned that a week before the inauguration of the current U.S. President, he stated that in the case of the JCPOA, 'it was America that did not adhere to its promises and obligations,' while also indicating that Iran is fundamentally ready to negotiate with Trump's second administration. However, Khamenei reiterated that officials of the Islamic Republic should learn from the experience of America's exit from the JCPOA, stating, 'We gave concessions, we negotiated, we gave concessions, we compromised, but we did not achieve the results we intended.' He also claimed that 'the Americans are changing the map of the world on paper,' adding, 'If they threaten us, we will threaten them. If they carry out that threat, we will also carry out our threat.' Trump stated on Wednesday that reports about the U.S. wanting to turn Iran into 'a pile of ashes' in cooperation with Israel are 'greatly exaggerated.' The U.S. President did not elaborate further, but earlier in February, he expressed hope that issues with Iran could be resolved without the need for an Israeli attack. He also stated, while signing executive orders on February 4, that he hopes military action will not be necessary to resolve issues with Iran, and when asked whether he supports a potential Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, he replied, 'Clearly, I will not answer that question; we will see what happens.' In response to a missile attack by the IRGC on Israel on September 30, Israel targeted some missile and air defense facilities of the Islamic Republic on October 27. Iranian officials stated that the Israeli attacks caused 'limited and minor damage,' but international media, citing satellite images and expert analyses, reported serious and effective damage to some military facilities, particularly Iran's defensive capabilities. Shortly after this attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if the Islamic Republic of Iran attacks the country for the third time, its economy will be crippled.