Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic: Negotiations with the United States are not intelligent, wise, and honorable and have no effect on solving the country's problems. Experience!

We negotiated with the United States and several other countries for about two years in the 2010s. A treaty was formed, but the Americans did not uphold it, and the person currently in office tore it up and did not implement it.  

Ayatollah Khamenei, this morning, in a meeting with a group of Air Force and Air Defense Force commanders of the Army:

Firstly, negotiations with the United States have no impact on resolving the country’s problems. We must understand this correctly. They should not make it seem as if sitting at the negotiating table with that government will solve this or that issue. No, negotiations with the United States do not solve any problems.  
The reason? Experience!  

In the 2010s, we sat down with the United States for negotiations, which lasted about two years, and a treaty was formed. Of course, the U.S. was not alone; several other countries were also involved, but the U.S. was the main player, the central force. Our government at the time engaged in negotiations—officials came and went, sat down and stood up, negotiated, talked, laughed, shook hands, acted friendly, did everything, and a treaty was formed. In this treaty, the Iranian side showed great generosity and granted many concessions to the other side. However, the Americans did not uphold the treaty.  

The very person who is currently in office tore up the treaty. He said he would, and he did; they did not implement it. Even before he came into office, those with whom the treaty was signed had not fulfilled their commitments. The purpose of the treaty was to lift U.S. sanctions, but the sanctions were not lifted! The U.S. sanctions were not removed!  

Regarding the United Nations, they also created a lingering issue, like a constant threat hanging over Iran. This treaty was the result of negotiations that lasted two years—perhaps a little more or less.  

Well, this is an experience; we must learn from it. We gave concessions, we negotiated, we compromised, but we did not achieve the intended result. And despite all its flaws, the other side still violated, undermined, and ultimately tore up the treaty.  

Negotiating with such a government is unwise, neither intelligent nor honorable.  

February 7, 2025