Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated that if Iran wanted to develop nuclear weapons, the United States would not have been able to prevent it. He also dismissed the idea of engaging in nuclear talks with the US.
According to Al Jazeera, Khamenei said that even if nuclear negotiations took place, US sanctions on Iran would not be lifted. His remarks came after rejecting a letter from former US President Donald Trump, who had invited Iran to discuss the nuclear issue.
Previously, Trump stated that Iran could be controlled in two ways—militarily or through an agreement that would prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. The letter was delivered to Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, by Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic advisor from the United Arab Emirates.
While the letter was being discussed, Khamenei addressed a group of university students, calling the invitation for talks a “deception” meant to mislead global public opinion. He argued that the US had no intention of respecting any agreement and that negotiations would only lead to stricter sanctions and increased pressure on Iran.
Since Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reinstated economic sanctions, Iran has accelerated its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported that Iran has enriched uranium up to 60%, approaching the 90% required for weapons-grade material.
Despite this, Iran has consistently denied any intention of developing nuclear weapons. Khamenei reiterated, “If we wanted to build nuclear weapons, the US could not have stopped us. But we do not seek them.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also rejected any possibility of negotiations under US threats, telling Trump, “Do whatever you want.”