Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday reinforced that experience proves talks with the United States as “not smart, wise or honorable”
He said, “Negotiating with America is neither smart, wise, or honorable. It will not solve any of our problems. The reason? Experience!” Khamenei was quoted as saying.”
The remarks come following the U.S. President Donald Trump expressing his willingness to start working with Iran on a “verified nuclear peace agreement” after he restored his maximum pressure campaign on the country.
On Tuesday, Trump signed the presidential memorandum reimposing Washington’s tough policy of ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran that was practiced throughout his first term.
As per the memo, the US will impose “maximum economic pressure” on Iran, including sanctions and enforcement mechanisms on those violating existing sanctions. Further, it implements a campaign aimed at “driving Iran’s oil exports to zero.
Trump in his previous term in office in 2018, pulled the US out of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with world powers and reimposed sanctions that shattered Iran’s economy.
Khamenei said that following two years of talks, Iran had reached its agreement with the U.S. and other countries but the Americans did not adhere to it despite Iran’s many concessions.
“The Americans did not uphold their end of the deal,” he said. “The very person who is in office today tore up the agreement. He said he would, and he did”, he said referring to Trump.
He added, “This is an experience we must learn from. We negotiated, we gave concessions, we compromised— but we did not achieve the results we aimed for. And despite all its flaws, the other side ultimately violated and destroyed the agreement.”
The remarks were made by Khamenei a day after a senior Iranian official stated that Iran was willing to give the United States an opportunity to resolve disputes.
