Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out negotiations with US President Donald Trump, accusing him of using threats and pressure tactics instead of seeking real solutions.
Speaking to officials on Saturday, Khamenei criticized what he called “bullying governments” that push for talks while aiming for domination rather than problem-solving. His remarks came a day after Trump warned of military action if Iran refused to engage in discussions over its nuclear program.
Trump had announced on Friday that he had sent a letter to Khamenei, urging Iran to return to the negotiating table. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran had not received any official communication from Washington.
Iran has remained firm in its stance, refusing to negotiate under what it calls “maximum pressure.” This policy, reinstated by Trump after his return to the White House, saw the US reimpose sweeping sanctions on Iran, reversing the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal, which included major world powers, had lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities.
While Iran has been in talks with European nations—Britain, France, and Germany—to find diplomatic solutions, Khamenei criticized these countries for accusing Tehran of failing to meet its nuclear commitments. He pointed out that Iran remained compliant with the JCPOA for a full year after Trump abandoned it in 2018 before it began rolling back its commitments. Since then, Iran has significantly increased uranium enrichment, raising concerns in Washington that it could produce a nuclear weapon within weeks.
Despite these warnings, Iran has consistently denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, citing a religious decree by Khamenei that bans their production.
This is not the first time Khamenei has rejected negotiations with the US. He previously dismissed direct talks in 2019, refusing to engage with Trump, whom he said was not “worthy of exchanging messages.”