WANA (Apr 11) – The interim Friday Prayer leader of Tehran said: We are pursuing indirect negotiations, with the goal of lifting sanctions. They were never truly committed to dialogue and repeatedly violated their obligations. From the beginning, Iran has taken the initiative. We replaced the UAE with Oman as a mediator. They wanted to discuss various issues with us, but we placed only one subject on the agenda. Regarding the nuclear issue, we will only engage in indirect talks.

 

Hojjat al-Islam Kazem Seddiqi, in this week’s Friday Prayer sermon in Tehran, referring to the topic of negotiations with the United States, stated: We sat at the table and negotiated for years, and the very person who is now in power walked away and tore up the agreement. The Supreme Leader has said that these people only want to impose their dictates and force the other side to sign. No one forgets the words of Imam Khomeini, who said our relationship with America is like that of the wolf and the lamb—this is the strategy of the Islamic system. The U.S. has suffered the loss of its regional interests and, as a result, harbors deep and irreparable hostility toward Islamic Iran.

 

He continued: What is the meaning of this claim by the U.S. President, who recently announced he would hold direct talks with Iran on a certain Saturday? These are just deceptive claims.

 

Seddiqi emphasized: A deceitful, law-breaking, and immoral entity has no right to negotiate directly with Iran. However, we are willing to use any means to lift the inhumane and unjust sanctions. Although the Supreme Leader has outlined the path of the Resistance Economy to resolve our issues internally, if negotiations fail to solve our problems, we know we can rely on our passionate and motivated youth. So far, they’ve achieved remarkable things.

 

The interim Friday Prayer leader added: The Islamic Republic of Iran is logical and open to negotiations. We pursue indirect talks aimed at lifting sanctions. They were not committed to genuine negotiation and broke their promises. Iran took the lead from the outset. We chose Oman instead of the UAE. They wanted to raise various issues, but we kept the agenda limited to one topic. Regarding the nuclear issue, we will only engage in indirect negotiations. As the head of the Atomic Energy Organization has said, today Iran is a nuclear-capable nation.

 

He further stated: Even if they dare to bomb a facility inside our country, they will never be able to destroy the knowledge and expertise we possess. We have gained both experience and scientific knowledge along this path.

 

Seddiqi continued: The JCPOA was a valuable lesson for us. Some panicked and poured concrete [into nuclear facilities], yet they failed to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. With a wise, God-reliant Leader, and under the guidance of Imam Mahdi along with the support of the people, we will navigate these circumstances.

 

He reminded the audience: In the past four years, four rounds of indirect negotiations have been held—one of them under the current administration. When the other side saw Iran’s seriousness, they backed down and stopped the talks.

 

He went on: The Zionist proxy regime is demolishing the homes of Palestinian youth. Hezbollah in Lebanon is not a proxy force but stands independently with courage, fighting under the banner of Imam Hussain (AS), embracing martyrdom as an honor, and resisting to the last man. These savage creatures, worse than any living being, have obliterated entire villages in Gaza. But it is the resistance that has challenged and damaged them. The illegitimate Israeli regime is a proxy state backed and supported by the United States. It is the U.S. that is supplying its most advanced weapons, burning the people of Gaza and even journalists alive. America sees itself in decline and is committing its final crimes on the global stage. But American rulers must know that the oppressor will soon regret, and in the end, the oppressed will prevail.