Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has declared that the ongoing issues with the United States are “unsolvable” and that Tehran will never submit to Washington’s demands to become “obedient.” His comments, made during a public address and reported by state media, come amid a heated standoff with Western powers over Iran’s nuclear program and a recent agreement to resume talks with European nations.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Iranian people will “stand with all of its power” against those who have such “erroneous expectations” of subjugation. He criticized those who call for direct negotiations with the US, labeling them as “shallow-minded” and asserting that the core issue lies in Washington’s aggressive desire to dominate.
The Supreme Leader’s remarks follow a period of heightened tensions, including a recent 12-day conflict in June where the US and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear sites. This conflict, which Iran claims was an act of aggression, led to Tehran suspending its direct nuclear negotiations with the United States. While Iran has now agreed to resume talks with European powers to try and restart negotiations on curbing its nuclear enrichment work, Khamenei’s comments cast doubt on the possibility of a direct diplomatic solution with the US.
In his address, Ayatollah Khamenei also called for national unity to confront what he described as US and Israeli efforts to sow discord within Iran. He blamed “agents of America and the Zionist regime” for trying to create internal divisions and urged Iranians to remain united in the face of these external pressures.
The hardline stance from Iran’s highest authority suggests that the deep-seated animosity between the two countries, which dates back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, remains a defining feature of the relationship. The US, along with its European allies, has accused Iran of working towards developing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran has consistently denied, stating its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.
