Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared on Saturday that Tehran will not succumb to external pressure for negotiations, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he had reached out to Iran’s leadership to propose a new nuclear agreement.
In an interview with Fox Business, Trump stated, "There are two ways to deal with Iran: militarily, or through a deal" aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
During a meeting with senior Iranian officials, Khamenei dismissed Washington’s approach, asserting that negotiations were merely a tool for the U.S. to "impose its own expectations," as reported by Iranian state media.
"Certain arrogant powers insist on negotiations not to resolve issues, but to advance new demands. Their agenda extends beyond Iran’s nuclear program. Iran will never bow to such pressure," Khamenei stated, without explicitly mentioning Trump.
In response, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes reaffirmed Trump’s position, echoing the ultimatum of diplomacy or military action.
"We hope the Iranian regime prioritizes its people’s welfare over supporting terrorism," Hughes remarked.
While Trump has expressed willingness to strike a deal, he has simultaneously reinstated a "maximum pressure" strategy, aimed at isolating Iran economically and curtailing its oil exports—reminiscent of his first presidential term.
Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had imposed strict restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. After Washington abandoned the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, Iran systematically violated and exceeded the deal’s provisions.
Rafael Grossi, head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, recently warned that time is running out to diplomatically rein in Iran’s accelerating uranium enrichment, which is nearing weapons-grade levels. Tehran, however, maintains that its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful.
Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority over Iran’s policies, reaffirmed his defiance, asserting that "the only way to counter coercion and intimidation is through resistance."
"They introduce new demands that Iran will never accept—whether it be limiting our defense capabilities, missile range, or regional influence," he added.
Despite Tehran’s insistence that its ballistic missile program serves defensive purposes, Western nations view it as a destabilizing force in an already volatile Middle East.
Amid rising tensions with the U.S. and Israel, Iran has recently unveiled advancements in its military arsenal, including its first drone carrier and an underground naval base, signaling its readiness to confront external threats.