DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated on Friday that negotiations with the United States are “not intelligent, wise or honorable” following President Donald Trump’s suggestion of potential nuclear discussions with Tehran. Khamenei emphasized that “there should be no negotiations with such a government,” although he did not explicitly prohibit engagement with Washington. His remarks seem to contradict recent signals from Tehran desiring dialogue about its advancing nuclear program in hopes of lifting severe economic sanctions worth billions of dollars.

The uncertainty surrounding future diplomatic interactions remains, especially as reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has encouraged negotiations with the West. Khamenei's comments to air force officers contradict his earlier statements from August that appeared to open the door for talks. The 85-year-old leader is known for navigating between reformist aspirations and hardline elements of Iran’s political landscape, notably including the Revolutionary Guard.

Khamenei pointed to Trump's unilateral withdrawal from a prior nuclear deal, which had constrained Iran's uranium enrichment in return for lifted sanctions. “The Americans did not uphold their end of the deal,” Khamenei remarked. “The very person who is in office today tore up the agreement. He said he would, and he did.” He insisted this experience be taken as a lesson, asserting that negotiations had not yielded the desired results and that the agreement was ultimately violated by the other side.

These comments come in the wake of Trump indicating a desire to negotiate with Tehran while reinstating a "maximum pressure" policy. “We don’t want to be tough on Iran,” Trump stated while expressing concerns about nuclear capabilities. He further commented on the possibility of a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, expressing hope for growth and prosperity for Iran.

Meanwhile, Khamenei indirectly governed Iranian policy through measured remarks, illustrating the complexities of Iran's internal power dynamics, including his relationship with Pezeshkian's leadership. In recent statements, Pezeshkian suggested Iran could allow extensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reaffirming Iran’s position that its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful purposes, despite an increase in uranium enrichment to 60% purity—reminiscent of the threshold for weapons-grade materials.

Khamenei also commented on Trump’s recent proposals regarding Palestinian resettlement in Gaza, indicating a broader criticism of U.S. foreign policy. “The Americans sit, redrawing the map of the world — but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality,” he stated, warning of reciprocal action against any threats to Iranian sovereignty.

Adding to the tensions, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. Treasury's recent sanctions against companies involved in trading Iranian oil, labeling these measures as unjustified and contrary to international norms.

For further information, refer to Voice of America, HuffPost, Time, and AP News.