Why it matters:
Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks reflect Iran's ongoing resistance against the U.S. maximum pressure and its commitment to maintaining its sovereignty. His statements also highlight the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges of negotiating with a country that has previously abandoned the agreements.
The big picture:
Iran Leader's comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S., particularly following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal known as JCPOA. Ayatollah Khamenei's insistence on Iran's strength and capabilities to bolster national dignity and morale and assert the country's position in the face of external pressures.
What he's saying:
- The U.S. president saying they’re ready to negotiate with Iran is to deceive public opinion. Why isn’t Iran willing to negotiate with the U.S.? This same U.S. president tore up the signed JCPOA agreement. How could we hold negotiations with the U.S. when we know they don’t fulfill their commitments?
- Negotiation with this U.S. administration won’t result in the sanctions being removed. It will cause the knot of sanctions to become tighter and the pressure to increase.
- The absence of our dear ones (Resistance Front leaders) is a loss, but we are stronger in some areas compared to last year. Losing prominent figures does not mean regression if two factors remain: ideals and effort.
- The U.S. threatens Iran with a military attack. Starting a war or inflicting a blow isn’t something that can be done by one side without receiving a response. Iran is capable of carrying out a counterattack, and it will definitely inflict such a blow.
- If we had wanted to build nuclear weapons, the U.S. wouldn’t have been able to stop us. The fact that we neither possess nor seek nuclear weapons is because we don’t want to.
محمود مجدی
