Khamenei Doubts Outcome of Nuclear Talks as US-Iran Standoff Deepens
News Desk
Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday expressed deep skepticism over the progress of nuclear negotiations with the United States, warning that the talks are unlikely to yield any significant breakthrough amid escalating tensions and what he called “nonsense” demands from Washington.
In remarks posted on his official website, Khamenei said, “During [former president Ebrahim] Raisi’s time there were also indirect negotiations that didn’t result in anything, and now we also doubt we will reach a conclusion, and we don’t know what will happen.”
Khamenei strongly rejected U.S. calls for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, dismissing them as “a big mistake.” He insisted Tehran would not await American approval, bluntly telling U.S. negotiators, “Try not to talk nonsense.”
His comments come as hopes dim for any breakthrough in the fourth round of indirect talks held earlier this month in Oman. The discussions, aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, were described by Iranian officials as “difficult.”
At the heart of the deadlock is Iran’s insistence on its right to enrich uranium, which it maintains under the UN’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, the U.S. has taken a firmer position, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff declaring over the weekend that Washington “cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability” under any future agreement.
“We’ve delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them,” Witkoff told ABC News, though he offered no specific details.
Tehran, however, remains unconvinced. Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi told the semi-official Nour News agency on Monday that the negotiations would “not actually get anywhere” if the US maintains its demand to halt enrichment entirely.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the sentiment, revealing that while Iran had received a proposed date for the next round of talks, it had not yet agreed to it. “We are still tussling,” he said, reflecting the entrenched positions on both sides.
Adding to the mixed signals, former US President Donald Trump, during a recent visit to the Middle East, renewed threats of using force if Tehran refuses a deal but stopped short of explicitly rejecting Iran’s enrichment rights.
With mutual distrust running deep and no confirmed date or location for the next meeting—though Europe is expected to host—the outlook for meaningful progress remains bleak. Despite his tough rhetoric, Witkoff struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying, “We hope that it will lead to some real positivity.
