Khamenei rejects talks with "bullying powers"
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the insistence of some bullying powers on holding talks with Iran does not aim to solve issues.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with heads of the three branches of government and a number of Iranian officials in Tehran.
"The insistence of some bully governments on negotiations is not aimed at resolving issues, but rather [aims] to assert and impose their own expectations,” the Leader said.
“Absolutely, the Islamic Republic will not accept their expectations,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
These bullying governments do not seek to negotiate solely on the nuclear issue; instead, they use negotiations as a “path to create new expectations” in areas such as Iran’s defense capabilities and international capabilities, which Iran would definitely oppose, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.
They are raising the issue of negotiations to exert pressure on public opinion, so Iran refuses to hold talks with them despite their expression of readiness, he added.
The Leader criticized Europeans for leveling shameless allegations against Iran, saying their claim that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments is “irrational.”
"You say that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments. Well, did you fulfill yours? You did not comply with your obligations from the very beginning," Ayatollah Khamenei told Europeans.
After the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Europeans vowed to compensate but failed to fulfill their promise, the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the principles of Western civilization are contrary to the principles of Islam and “we cannot follow them.”
“We can and should use any benefit [available] anywhere in the world but we cannot rely on the principles of Western civilization,” the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei urged all Iranian officials to foster coherence to solve problems, saying the three branches of government and the Armed Forces should strengthen cooperation.
