Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects U.S. Negotiation Push: “We Will Not Be Bullied”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear on Saturday that Tehran will not bow to pressure for negotiations, a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in nuclear deal talks.
In a high-stakes interview with Fox Business, Trump bluntly stated, “There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.” His remarks signal renewed tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which the U.S. and its allies fear could lead to nuclear weapons development.
Khamenei: Washington’s Demands Are Unacceptable
Addressing senior Iranian officials, Khamenei dismissed U.S. overtures as coercion, not diplomacy. Iranian state media reported that the Supreme Leader accused the U.S. of using negotiations as a tool to impose its demands.
“The insistence of some bullying governments on negotiations is not to resolve issues. … Talks for them is a pathway to have new demands, not just about Iran’s nuclear issue. … Iran will definitely not accept their expectations,” Khamenei said.
While Khamenei did not directly name Trump, his message was clear: Iran will not negotiate under duress.
White House Doubles Down on Trump’s Stance
Following Khamenei’s remarks, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes reinforced Trump’s position, issuing a statement that mirrored the former president’s stark choices for Iran—negotiate or face military consequences.
“We hope the Iran Regime puts its people and best interests ahead of terror,” Hughes said.
Trump’s ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Back in Focus
Trump’s comments highlight the return of his “maximum pressure” strategy, which aimed to cripple Iran’s economy by isolating Tehran from global markets and driving its oil exports to zero.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, a historic agreement between Iran and world powers that had placed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. After Trump pulled out in 2018, Washington re-imposed crippling economic sanctions, prompting Iran to ramp up uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits.
U.N. Chief Warns Time is Running Out
With Iran accelerating its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has warned that diplomatic efforts to reinstate restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program are on the brink of collapse.
Iran maintains that its nuclear advancements are purely for peaceful energy purposes, a claim that Western powers remain skeptical about.
Iran Expands Military Capabilities Amid U.S. Tensions
Beyond the nuclear dispute, Khamenei signaled that Washington’s broader demands—including Iran’s missile program and regional influence—are also non-negotiable.
“They are bringing up new demands that certainly will not be accepted by Iran, like our defense capabilities, missile range, and international influence,” Khamenei declared.
Despite Western concerns, Iran insists its ballistic missile program is defensive. However, Tehran has unveiled significant military advancements in recent months, including:
- Its first-ever drone carrier
- An underground naval base
These moves come as Iran faces mounting tensions with the U.S. and Israel, raising fears of potential military escalations in the region.
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