WANA (Mar 12) – The Supreme Leader of Iran stated: “When the U.S. President says, ‘We are ready to negotiate with Iran’ and calls for talks, it is a deception aimed at misleading global public opinion.”

 

This afternoon, Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei, in a meeting with a group of students and members of student organizations from across the country, remarked: “This move is meant to suggest that the U.S. is willing to negotiate and seeks peace, while Iran refuses. But why does Iran refuse to negotiate? Look at yourselves! We sat down for years and negotiated. The very same person who finalized, signed, and completed the agreement threw it off the table and tore it up. When we know they won’t uphold their commitments, what is the point of negotiations?”

 

The Leader of the Revolution added: “Negotiating with the current U.S. administration will not lift sanctions; rather, it will make them more severe.”

 

He further noted: “Sanctions are not ineffective, but they are also not the sole cause of economic difficulties. Even our adversaries admit that sanctions are gradually losing their impact. The main reason behind economic problems is our own mismanagement rather than sanctions.”

 

The Supreme Leader emphasized: “They claim, ‘We won’t let Iran obtain nuclear weapons.’ If we had intended to develop nuclear weapons, the U.S. would not have been able to stop us.”

He added: “Iran does not seek war, but if the Americans or their allies make a mistake, Iran’s response will be decisive and inevitable. And the one who will suffer the most will be the United States.”

 

The Leader of the Revolution continued: “Our security and military forces have taken necessary action against the Israeli regime when required. I firmly believe in relying on the youth, but the key condition is perseverance.”

 

‘This Year, We Have Capabilities That We Didn’t Have Last Year’

In the first part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei stated: “Since last year’s meeting, many events have unfolded. A year ago, when I met with you students on this same day, President Raisi was alive. Martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, may God bless him, was with us. Martyrs Haniyeh, Safi al-Din, Sinwar, Deif, and many other great revolutionary figures were among us. Today, they are not.”

 

He continued: “Our enemies, adversaries, and rivals have a flawed and superficial understanding of this event. But I want to tell you with complete confidence: Yes, these brothers were immensely valuable, and their absence is a loss. There is no doubt about that. However, today, despite their absence, we are stronger than we were last year in certain areas, and in others, we are at least not weaker.”

 

The Supreme Leader added: “By the grace of God, we possess various strengths and capabilities today that we did not have last year. So yes, the loss of these dear figures is significant, and the events in West Asia have been painful. However, the Islamic Republic continues to grow, progress, and expand its power.”

 

He emphasized: “Losing key figures is a loss, but as long as the two essential elements—ideals and effort—remain, the overall movement will not be halted.”

 

‘The Global Bullies Demand Absolute Obedience’

Addressing the students, the Supreme Leader remarked: “Today, the world’s bullies demand that everyone obey them and prioritize their interests over their own. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country that has firmly rejected this demand.”

‘The U.S. Call for Negotiations Is a Deception’

Reiterating his stance, Ayatollah Khamenei stated: “When the U.S. President says, ‘We are ready to negotiate with Iran,’ it is merely an attempt to deceive global public opinion. The message they want to send is that they are open to negotiations and peace, but Iran refuses. But why is Iran unwilling? The answer lies with them.”

 

He continued: “We engaged in years of negotiations. The same individual who finalized and signed the agreement later discarded and tore it up. When we know they won’t honor their commitments,what is the purpose of negotiating?”

 

Referring to internal debates on negotiations, he remarked: “Some people inside the country keep insisting: ‘Why don’t you respond? Why don’t you negotiate? Why don’t you sit down with the U.S.?’ Let me clarify: If the goal of negotiations is to lift sanctions, talks with the current U.S. administration will not achieve that. Instead, they will tighten the sanctions, make them more complicated, and increase pressure.”

 

He concluded: “If the Islamic Republic had intended to develop nuclear weapons, the U.S. could not have stopped it. The fact that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons is solely due to its own decision.”