A senior official from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's office stated on Thursday that Iran's ban on nuclear weapons is a firm religious decree, and any discussions with the US would take place only under strict conditions.
Mehdi Fazaeli said Khamenei’s order against nuclear arms “is a ruling that remains fixed and cannot be changed,” adding that it bars “production, stockpiling and use” of such weapons. He said the position rests on “divine law,” not political pressure, The Caspian Post reports citing Iranian media.
Fazaeli said Khamenei views engagement with Washington as something tightly limited rather than an open path. “Negotiation that means retreat is rejected,” he said, while talks that are “smart, controlled and used to drive away threats” can be permitted. He added that “tying all hopes to the table of negotiation is a strategic mistake.”
He said that despite what he described as deep strategic mistrust, Khamenei has at times allowed narrow, issue-specific contacts “to safeguard higher national interests,” citing earlier talks on Iraq, Afghanistan and the nuclear issues.
Khamenei ties any cooperation to end of US backing for Israel
His remarks follow Khamenei’s speech earlier this month in which he said the United States would need to cut all support for Israel, close its bases in the region and stop what he called interference before any idea of cooperation with Iran could even be examined “much later.”
Khamenei said the rift with the United States is fundamental and that all US presidents have pushed Iran to give in.
The United States and Iran held five rounds of nuclear talks before Israel launched a surprise 12-day offensive on Iran in June, followed by US strikes on enrichment sites on June 22. Iran then retaliated with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
Trump said in October the United States was ready to reach a deal “when Tehran is ready,” saying “the hand of friendship and cooperation is open.” Western powers want enrichment on Iranian soil reduced to zero to limit any risk of weaponization. Tehran has rejected that demand.
IAEA says access to bombed sites still blocked
The UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday it has not been able to check Iran’s enriched uranium stock for five months because Tehran has not allowed inspectors to reach the seven sites bombed in June. It said verification is “long overdue” and that it has lost “continuity of knowledge” of Iran’s nuclear material.
Before the attacks, inspectors had confirmed Iran held about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has written to UN chief António Guterres saying Trump’s remarks show the United States directed Israel’s first strike. He asked for an emergency Security Council meeting, sanctions and reparations. Washington dismissed earlier compensation demands as baseless in August.
