Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed on Saturday that his country will not yield to the demands of what he called “bullying countries,” in an apparent response to the U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he sent a letter regarding a potential nuclear agreement.
Khamenei’s remarks appear to be a veiled response to Trump’s assertion that he reached out to the Iranian leader to discuss a possible nuclear deal. However, Khamenei neither directly mentioned Trump nor confirmed receiving any correspondence from the U.S. president.
In a meeting with senior officials, Khamenei emphasized that some powerful nations push for negotiations not to resolve conflicts but to impose their will on others. “Some bullying countries insist on talks not to resolve issues but to impose their demands… we will certainly not accept their demands,” he stated. He also stressed that Iran would not agree to any restrictions on its defense capabilities, including the production of weapons and missile development. Additionally, Khamenei rejected demands for Iran to cut ties with allied groups in the region, asserting the country’s right to determine its own foreign policy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, told reporters that Iran had not yet received any official letter from Trump.
Trump, in an upcoming interview with Fox Business set to air in full on Sunday, claimed he had sent a letter to Khamenei on Wednesday, emphasizing his desire to reach a deal over Iran’s nuclear program. During a press briefing in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump hinted at imminent developments regarding Iran. “We are down to final strokes with Iran. We are down to the final moments. We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. Something is going to happen very soon. I would rather have a peace deal than the other option, but the other option will solve the problem,” Trump stated.
The U.S. and Iran have been at odds over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, with tensions escalating since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. While the Biden administration had sought to revive negotiations, Trump’s latest remarks signal continued pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program. It remains to be seen how Iran will officially respond to Trump’s claim and whether new diplomatic channels will open in the coming days.
