The BRICS TimesIran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made this statement after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met European counterparts seeking to prevent the re-imposition of nuclear sanctions.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday refused any direct negotiations with the United States regarding his country’s nuclear program. This statement came at a time when Iranian President Masoud Pezheshkian traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Khamenei’s remarks may limit Pezheshkian’s potential engagement with American officials.
Khamenei delivered this statement during a speech broadcasted on Iranian state television. The remarks followed a meeting of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with European counterparts who are urging measures to prevent the re-imposition of nuclear sanctions. These sanctions are expected to come back into effect on Sunday.
Rejecting Direct Talks with the U.S.
The Supreme Leader emphasized that negotiating directly with the United States would be “going down a dead-end road.” His comments appear to constrain President Pezheshkian’s ability to approach the Americans.
Meeting European Counterparts
The comments were made after Araghchi held talks with diplomats from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These meetings focused on discussions about the revival of UN-imposed sanctions and ways to mitigate their impact.
Positive Signals from Araghchi
Earlier in July, Foreign Minister Araghchi had expressed Iran’s willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States if guarantees were provided that Iran would not face any renewed attacks. Addressing foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi said, “Iran has always been ready for discussions on its nuclear program and will remain so in the future. But it must be ensured that no unfavorable situation arises from this process.”
