WANA (May 20) – Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic, commented on recent indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, stating: “To say ‘We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’—is an outrageous overstep. No one is waiting for anyone’s permission. The Islamic Republic has a policy and a path, and it will pursue it. ”

 

He also, while referring to the history of Iran and U.S. talks, stated that he doesn’t think the negotiations with the U.S. will lead to anything and warned the American officials that they must avoid making nonsense talks during negotiations.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei delivered this speech at the first anniversary of the passing of Iranian President Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage on Monday in Tehran.

 

Raisi’s Approach Toward Negotiation with the U.S.

During the ceremony, the leader of the Islamic Revolution recalled President Raisi’s firm stance against direct negotiations with the United States:

 

“In his very first interview as president, a reporter asked him whether he would negotiate with America. He answered clearly and without ambiguity: ‘No.’ He did not allow the enemy to later claim that they had managed—through threats, enticements, or deception—to bring Iran to the negotiating table. He simply did not permit it.”

 

The Leader emphasized that the current push by certain parties for direct talks stems largely from Raisi’s refusal to engage in such negotiations:

 

“One major reason why they insist on direct talks is that he didn’t allow it. Of course, indirect negotiations occurred during his presidency, too, just as they are now, but without result. And even now, we don’t think they will lead to anything—we simply don’t know what will come of them.”

 

 

Ayatollah Khamenei’s Warning to American

Ayatollah Khamenei also issued a stern warning to American officials involved in the talks: “Those engaged in these indirect talks must avoid making nonsense talks. Saying things like, ‘We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’—this is an outrageous overstep. No one is waiting for anyone’s permission. The Islamic Republic has a policy and a path, and it will pursue it.”

 

He added that further clarification would be given to the Iranian nation in due time: “In another setting, I will explain to the people why these Western and American parties are so insistent on stopping Iran’s enrichment activities—why they are so focused on this issue. God willing, I will elaborate at another time so that the nation understands their true intentions.”

 

Ayatollah Khamenei described the late president as a “humble and God-conscious heart, a truthful and candid tongue, and a tireless and constant man of action.”

 

The Helicopter Accident

Ayatollah Raisi and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met on May 19, 2024, at the zero-point border near the construction site of the joint “Qiz Qalasi” dam on the Aras River. Later that day, President Raisi boarded a helicopter en route to Tabriz.

 

Two other helicopters accompanied his aircraft, but around 1:00 p.m., the president’s helicopter lost contact near Varzaqan and did not respond to radio messages.

 

After hours of search efforts by rescue teams, the crash site was discovered, and the tragic news of the death of President Raisi and his companions was officially confirmed.