Khamenei rejects U.S. pressure on enrichment
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called it “utterly wrong” for the United States to insist on Iran’s completely stopping its peaceful uranium enrichment activities.
“To say that ‘we will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’ is a huge mistake,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated in Tehran.
“No one is waiting for permission from anyone. The Islamic Republic has its own policies, its own methods, and it pursues its own agenda,” the Leader underlined, addressing a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of former president Ebrahim Raeisi’s martyrdom.
Ayatollah Khemenei advised the American side to avoid “idle talk” regarding the courses of action that it thinks the Islamic Republic should or should not take.
The Leader voiced skepticism concerning the outcome of Iran’s underway indirect talks with the United States., saying that the talks are unlikely to yield results.
“During Martyr Raeisi's term, there were indirect negotiations, but they yielded no results,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted, adding, “Now, we don’t think they’ll lead to a result now, and we don't know what will happen."
The Leader recalled that when asked by a reporter whether the Islamic Republic would engage in direct negotiations with the US, the former president had unequivocally answered, “No.”
Ayatollah Khamenei praised Raeisi for his resolute stance, emphasizing that he never allowed the enemy to claim that they could force Iran to come to the negotiation table through threats, enticement, or trickery. "He did not allow this," the Leader emphasized.
The Leader noted that Raeisi’s steadfast rejection of the prospect of direct talks with the US was “a major part” of the reason why various parties were now insisting that Iran allow taking place in such a diplomatic process.
The Islamic Republic has asserted that the talks must address removal of the US’s illegal sanctions on Tehran and avoid inclusion of the country’s defensive might.
