Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested on Tuesday that limited nuclear negotiations with the United States, Iran's biggest “enemy,” could be resumed.
He also advised civilian government officials not to believe anything the “enemy” says during negotiations.
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The supreme leader maintained that he viewed the United States as a deeply distrustful enemy, but said Iran could still “consider dialogue with the same enemy under certain circumstances.”
“There's nothing wrong with that, but don't get your hopes up about them,” he said. “Don't trust your enemies.”
Khamenei, who holds absolute power and final say on international relations under Iran's authoritarian theocracy, made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian and his cabinet ministers.
Pezechkian, described as a “moderate” and a “reformist,” Surprise Winner A successor to President Ebrahim Raisi was chosen in snap elections in July. Murdered Pezechkian's candidacy began in May after a helicopter crash. Supported This comes from the marginalized “moderate” wing of Iranian politics, who negotiated the nuclear deal with former President Barack Obama in 2015.
In fact, the new president's first choice for vice president was the lead negotiator for the deal, former foreign minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, but he soon resigned after opposing Pezechkian's cabinet nominees. united nations–He resigned on Tuesday but appeared pleased with the ayatollah's support for resuming nuclear negotiations.
“I and my colleagues on the Steering Committee are proud of the fact that almost 70 percent of the ministers and vice presidencies, as well as a large number of deputy ministries and organizations, are based on expert recommendations that came from this transparent and inclusive process,” Zarif said. said In his social media posts, he essentially walked back all of the reasons he gave for resigning as vice president in a dramatic fashion less than three weeks ago.
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“Following thoughtful follow-up and consultations led by the President, and in accordance with written instructions, I pledge to return to my duties as Strategic Vice President with faith in Allah and the support of our great people,” he said.
Pezeshkian Campaign Trump has committed to improving relations with the West and said he supports lifting harsh sanctions and reopening nuclear negotiations to “normalize relations with the world.” Like all Iranian leaders, including the most brutal hardliners, Trump has maintained that Iran's defense plans “do not include nuclear weapons.”
Iran watchers were curious to see how much negotiating room the hardline supreme leader would give Pezeshkian. The US State Department seemed less than impressed with the signals Khamenei sent in his remarks to cabinet ministers on Tuesday.
“We have long said we view diplomacy as the best way to achieve an effective and sustainable resolution regarding Iran's nuclear program. However, given Iran's escalation on all fronts, including its nuclear escalation and failure to cooperate, we are currently far from such a solution,” the State Department said.
“If Iran wants to demonstrate seriousness and a new approach, it should de-escalate its nuclear issue and begin meaningful cooperation with the IAEA,” the statement added.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, has long complained about Iran's refusal to fully cooperate with inspectors. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi Condemned After a visit to Tehran in May, he assessed Iran's level of cooperation as “completely insufficient.”
Ray Takei, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) said of The New York Times The New York Times said on Tuesday that Iran has insisted it is not interested in the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election but would likely negotiate with an extension of a Biden administration led by Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Previous [Iranian] “The administration did not believe they could negotiate because they viewed Trump as unpredictable. This essentially sets out the framework for negotiations if Kamala Harris wins,” Takei said of Khamenei's comments.
Iran could retaliate against Israel Liquidation The killing of Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month could also have a major impact on whether Iran pursues new negotiations with Western countries and whether a Harris or even a Biden administration would be willing to consult with Iran.
Iran said The United States, along with Israel, has said it is “responsible” for Haniya's death, and Iranian officials Threatened They are seeking to extend their “blood vendetta” against Haniya to attacks not only on Israelis but also on Americans. No party has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing that killed Haniya.
