TEHRAN — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed skepticism on Tuesday about the likelihood of renewed nuclear negotiations with the United States leading to any breakthrough, as Tehran considers a proposal for a potential fifth round of talks.
Speaking at a ceremony honoring the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Khamenei said that negotiations during Raisi’s presidency had yielded no results — and he saw little reason for optimism now.
“Indirect negotiations existed back then, in his time too. But there were no results,” Khamenei said. “And I don’t think they will bring results now — who knows.”
His remarks come amid reports that the two sides are weighing the possibility of resuming talks, possibly in Rome, to address ongoing tensions over uranium enrichment and broader nuclear activity.
Khamenei also criticized the tone of U.S. negotiators. “The American side… should try not to talk nonsense,” he said. “To say ‘we will not allow Iran to enrich [uranium]’ is a major overstep. No one is waiting for permission.”
The United States and its European allies have repeatedly voiced concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, which they say could pave the way for the development of nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and aimed at civilian energy production.
On Monday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi warned that any future negotiations would fail if Washington insists Tehran halt domestic enrichment efforts.
Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have persisted since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal — formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Efforts to revive the agreement have stalled repeatedly in the years since.
Despite talk of renewed diplomacy, both sides remain far apart on key issues, leaving the future of the negotiations uncertain.
