Iran's Supreme Leader Delivers First Public Speech in Two Months: "We Will Not Submit to the United States"

Khamenei Delivers First Public Speech Since '12-Day War'
Voices Support for Iranian President Pezeshkian

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, dismissed direct negotiations with the United States and called for national unity in his first public speech since the '12-Day War' with Israel.

EPA Yonhap News

According to the British daily Financial Times (FT), Reuters, AFP, and others, Khamenei, on the 24th (local time), did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name but stated, "The individual currently exercising authority in the United States has revealed a fundamental hostility toward Iran," adding, "They want the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic to submit."

He went on to criticize Iranian politicians who advocate direct negotiations with the United States as "shallow," emphasizing, "The Iranian people will firmly resist such (U.S.) demands." He also stated that issues with the United States are "impossible to resolve." This marks the first time Khamenei has addressed the public directly in a speech since the war with Israel.

Until now, he had only released brief video messages and participated in religious events on a limited basis. However, as calls from reformists within Iran to reset diplomatic relations with the United States have grown louder, he appeared before the public to reject negotiations.

Since the war with Israel, internal conflict has intensified between reformists demanding change and hardliners hostile to the West. Some hardliners have even called for the ousting of President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist.

In his public speech, Khamenei stressed that the enemy's strategy is to foment division within Iran and underscored the need for internal unity. He stated, "Those who serve the country, especially a hardworking and persistent president, must be supported," expressing his support for President Pezeshkian.

After Iran's nuclear facilities were bombed by Israel and the United States in June, the country completely suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Nuclear negotiations with the United States have also been halted since the outbreak of war with Israel, but Iran has maintained its position that it will never give up uranium enrichment. However, Iran resumed vice-ministerial talks with the so-called E3-Germany, France, and the United Kingdom-on the 25th of last month and agreed to hold a follow-up meeting on the 26th.