Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has expressed skepticism about the possibility of engaging in negotiations with the United States, labeling it as a “bullying” entity and questioning the nation’s adherence to prior commitments made in earlier agreements.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for a comment on Saturday afternoon.
Importance of the Situation
Since the beginning of the first Trump administration, U.S.-Iran relations have experienced significant volatility, reaching a nadir when President Donald Trump authorized the assassination of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani. He also withdrew unilaterally from the Iran nuclear agreement established by former President Barack Obama.
In retaliation, Iran vowed to avenge Soleimani’s death, allegedly plotting to assassinate Trump as well as an Iranian American “journalist, author, and political activist” critical of the regime.
Trump has been a continual critic of former President Joe Biden’s approach to Iran and his administration’s efforts to restore the Iran nuclear deal.
Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Images
Key Points
In an interview with Fox News, Trump mentioned that he had sent a letter to Khamenei proposing the reopening of negotiations regarding a nuclear deal. However, the Iranian Mission informed Newsweek that they had “not received such a letter so far.”
Khamenei addressed this issue on Saturday during a tribute event for former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, asserting that Iran “will certainly not accept” the “expectations” set by the U.S. and other Western leaders who employ “bullying” tactics, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency.
“You claim Iran has not met its nuclear commitments. But what about yours?” Khamenei challenged.
Iran’s stance has evolved significantly during Trump’s second term, moving from potential openness to discussions to outright rejection. In February, Khamenei stated: “If they threaten us, we will threaten them in return. If they act on their threats, we will act on ours.”
Trump’s strategy towards Iran appears part of a broader dual approach aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine and Israel while enhancing U.S.-Russia relations, particularly as Iran and Russia have bolstered their ties in recent years.
Moscow and Tehran formalized a 20-year strategic partnership in January, and their cooperation has intensified across various sectors. However, there have been disagreements over issues like Syria, arms sales, and negotiations with the U.S., which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov seemed to support during his recent visit to Iran last month.
Reactions
In a preview clip for his interview with Sunday Morning Futures, President Donald Trump remarked: “Iran can be handled in two ways: through military action, or through a deal. I’d prefer to make a deal because I don’t wish harm on Iran. They are great people.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “The U.S. and Iran should engage in negotiations, and Moscow is prepared to do all it can to facilitate this.”
What Lies Ahead?
The Trump administration will need to respond to Khamenei’s remarks and explore alternative approaches. However, it remains uncertain how much interest Iran will have in negotiations with the U.S. as its economic alliances with China and Russia continue to provide support amid significant U.S. sanctions.
Update, 3/8/25 at 1:21 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information, context, and quotes.
