Iran’s leader problems with US
Berlin (dpa) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out political agreement with the United States under President Donald Trump in an address broadcast on state television on Sunday.
The problems were insoluble and no longer concerned mere allegations against Iran, such as supporting terrorism and the violation of human rights, but the US now demanded obedience and capitulation, Khamenei said.
“The Iranian people will oppose this abhorrent demand with full determination,” he said.
Trump had also “incited” Israel and supported it in attacking Iran to force political change, but both had been surprised to find that Iran had defended itself with dignity, Khamenei said.
Iran’s supreme leader, who has the final say in all strategic matters, has seldom appeared in public since Israel attacked nuclear targets across the country in June. Observers believe he has been hiding in a bunker to avoid an Israeli attempt on his life.
Khamenei maintains that Iran prevailed in the brief war, even though important nuclear and military facilities were damaged or even destroyed.
The status of talks with the US on Iran’s nuclear programme remains unclear.
Reformers, including President Massoud Pezeshkian and his government, have not ruled out a resumption, but hardliners in parliament are strongly opposed to continuing negotiations, after the US dropped so-called bunker buster bombs on key Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day war.
Observers believe that Khamenei is not fundamentally opposed to talks, but rejects Trump’s conditions.
If the talks are not resumed, Iran faces increased sanctions that could hit its already devastated economy. A renewed Israeli attack remains a possibility. Meanwhile the country faces energy and water shortages that could lead to unrest, observers believe.
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