Iran’s supreme leader says nuclear talks with Trump admin would not be ‘wise’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made headlines on Friday when he told air force officers in Teheran that nuclear talks with the U.S. were not intelligent, wise, or honorable. This statement seemed to contradict his previous indications that he was open to negotiating with the U.S. over Iran’s nuclear program.

In August, Khamenei had hinted at the possibility of engaging in nuclear talks with the U.S., stating that there was “no harm” in engaging with its “enemy.” However, his recent comments suggest a shift in his stance on negotiations with the U.S., as he stated that there should be no negotiations with such a government.

This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s proposal for a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Iran. Trump had previously criticized the Iran Nuclear Deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term in 2018.

In response to Trump’s call for a new agreement, Khamenei criticized the U.S. for not upholding its end of the JCPOA and accused Trump of tearing up the agreement. He expressed disappointment that despite Iran’s concessions and compromises, they did not achieve the desired results.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is intended for civilian and peaceful purposes, but concerns have been raised about its enrichment of uranium to high levels. The country has enriched uranium to up to 60% purity, which is close to the level considered weapons grade.

Amid escalating tensions, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi expressed regret that there was no ongoing diplomatic process to de-escalate the situation. Khamenei’s remarks on Friday also seemed to reference President Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Iran and the U.S. will navigate their differences and whether negotiations will be possible in the future. The international community will be closely monitoring developments to see how the situation evolves.