Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday dismissed an offer of renewed nuclear negotiations from U.S. President Donald Trump, rejecting claims that American and Israeli airstrikes had dismantled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Speaking through state media, Khamenei criticized the nature of U.S. diplomacy, saying, “Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying.”
The remarks follow five rounds of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, which collapsed after a 12-day air campaign in June targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The strikes, carried out jointly by the U.S. and Israel, marked a sharp escalation in tensions and effectively ended the negotiation process.
Last week, Trump told the Israeli parliament that he remained open to a “peace deal” with Iran, citing the recent ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as a potential opening for broader regional diplomacy. However, Khamenei dismissed the notion that Iran’s nuclear program had been neutralized, saying, “The U.S. president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!”
He further condemned Washington’s involvement in Iran’s nuclear affairs, stating, “What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear facilities or not? These interventions are inappropriate, wrong and coercive.”
Western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian energy development, citing uranium enrichment activities as evidence. Tehran has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
The exchange underscores the deep mistrust between the two nations and casts doubt on the prospects for renewed diplomacy amid ongoing regional instability.
The exchange underscores the deep mistrust between the two nations and casts doubt on the prospects for renewed diplomacy amid ongoing regional instability.
