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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out direct negotiations with the US, accusing Washington of seeking an Iranian surrender.
In his first full public appearance since the 12-day war with Israel in June, Khamenei addressed thousands of people on Sunday, according to local media, after weeks of issuing only brief video messages and making limited ceremonial appearances.
His absence — following Israeli threats to assassinate him — had raised concerns over the stability of the Islamic republic’s leadership, amid growing domestic pressure on the regime to change course and pursue a rapprochement with Washington.
“This person who is currently in charge in the US revealed the essence of their hostility towards Iran — essentially, that they want the Iranian nation and the Islamic republic to surrender,” Khamenei said, without naming US President Donald Trump.
Khamenei criticised Iranian politicians advocating direct negotiations with Washington as “superficial”, insisting that “the Iranian nation will stand firmly against such [US] demands”.
Iran’s foreign minister said last month he had been in touch with US envoy Steve Witkoff, who had proposed resuming talks.
The remarks come at a critical time as reformist voices within Iran increasingly push for a diplomatic reset with the US, including the suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment and a return to negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions and ending decades of hostility.
Pro-reform politicians such as political prisoner Mostafa Tajzadeh have argued that engagement could usher in vital economic and political reforms.
Hardline factions, however, have responded sharply, particularly in parliament and during Friday prayer sermons.
Some have even suggested that reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected last year, should be removed.
But Khamenei backed Pezeshkian, warning against internal strife.
“The people should support those who serve the nation, especially the president, who is hardworking and persistent,” he said, in a clear rebuke to hardliners calling for Pezeshkian’s ousting.
Public anxiety remains high following the June war with Israel, which claimed more than 1,000 civilian lives and resulted in the deaths of dozens of senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. The US joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict.
Although open hostilities have ceased, no formal ceasefire has been reached, and fears persist of renewed conflict. Ongoing reports of fires across the country have further fuelled public concern that a shadow war remains under way, a claim that authorities deny.
Despite mounting pressure, Tehran has shown no intention of curbing its nuclear programme.
On Friday, the E3 — Britain, France and Germany — held telephone talks with Iran’s foreign minister as they reviewed the possibility of invoking a sanctions “snapback” mechanism ahead of the October 18 deadline.
This mechanism, envisaged in the 2015 deal over Iran’s nuclear programme, enables UN sanctions to be reimposed if Iran is found to be failing to comply with the agreement on curbing its nuclear activities.
October 18 is the last date on which the mechanism could be used, but in order to do so, the E3 would need to begin the process weeks beforehand.
The US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, and Iran claims the agreement is already void because the E3 failed to fulfil commitments to help lift sanctions in exchange for Tehran rolling back most of its nuclear activities.
Tehran has dismissed the E3’s threat and has so far shown no willingness to resume negotiations with the US or restart its co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been suspended since the June war.
Ali Larijani, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told domestic media on Friday that Iran would not accept an extension to the current snapback deadline, even if the E3 was considering extending the date as a temporary solution should Iran resume negotiations with the US.
“If we agree today, in six months we will be asked to do the same again. This is not sustainable,” he said.