Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declares that Tehran will only consider cooperation with the United States if Washington ends support for Israel and withdraws its military presence from the Middle East.
Khamenei Issues Strong Warning to Washington
In a fiery speech on Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran would only engage with the United States if it fundamentally changed its policy in the region—starting with its support for Israel.
“If they completely abandon support for the Zionist regime, withdraw their military bases from here, and refrain from interfering in this region, then cooperation can be considered,” Khamenei declared during a gathering of students in Tehran.
He accused Washington of arrogance, stating, “The arrogant nature of the United States accepts nothing other than submission.”
The remarks came on the anniversary of the 1979 US Embassy takeover in Tehran — a symbolic day marking the rupture of US-Iran relations following the Islamic Revolution.
Context: Israel-Iran Conflict and US Role
Khamenei’s comments come just months after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which erupted in June after Israel launched a large-scale aerial attack on Iranian targets.
The conflict quickly escalated as the United States briefly joined the fighting, striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to Iranian sources, 935 Iranians and 24 Israelis were killed during the conflict.
A ceasefire mediated by the US and Qatar has been in effect since June 24, though tensions remain high.
Strained Nuclear Talks and Renewed Sanctions
The brief war also derailed the nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which had resumed in April.
Iran remains under heavy international sanctions, intensified since 2018, when former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and reinstated economic penalties.
In September 2025, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran under the “snapback” mechanism, after Britain, France, and Germany triggered the process in response to Tehran’s continued nuclear activity.
Iran Signals Openness to Conditional Talks
Despite the rhetoric, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Sunday that Tehran remains “ready to enter negotiations” with the United States — but only on its nuclear programme.
He ruled out discussions on Iran’s missile capabilities, stating:
“Talks could resume whenever the Americans are ready to negotiate on an equal footing and based on mutual interests. Apparently, they are not in a hurry. We are not in a hurry either.”
Khamenei: Strength Is the Only Guarantee
Khamenei ended his address by calling for national resilience and self-reliance.
“If the country becomes strong and the enemy realises that confronting this strong nation will bring loss, the country will certainly gain immunity,” he said.
His message reinforced Iran’s longstanding stance: strength and independence, not negotiation, are the keys to sovereignty.
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