Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Nuclear Talks with Trump, Calls U.S. a “Bully”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sharply rejected renewed calls for nuclear negotiations with the United States, saying countries pushing for talks are only interested in exerting dominance, not resolving disputes. The remarks come after former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had written a letter to Khamenei urging a new nuclear deal.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said there were “two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” adding that he preferred diplomacy over conflict. “I said, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate, because it’s going to be a lot better for Iran,’” Trump said. “The alternative is we have to do something, because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”

While it is unclear if Khamenei received Trump’s letter, his response left little doubt about Tehran’s position. Without naming Trump, Khamenei said, “The insistence on the part of some bully states on negotiations is not to resolve issues, but to dominate and impose their own expectations.” He added that Iran “will definitely not accept their demands,” during a meeting with the heads of Iran’s three branches of government in Tehran.

Trump previously pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term and escalated tensions with a U.S.-led strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. Since returning to the political spotlight, Trump has signaled a desire to resume nuclear negotiations, reviving elements of his “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at isolating Iran both economically and diplomatically.

Despite Trump’s push for a new deal, Iran’s leadership remains skeptical. Khamenei said last month that engaging in talks with the U.S. would be “not smart.” Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.

Meanwhile, Russia has expressed interest in mediating future discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed earlier this week during a meeting with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia that Moscow is willing to participate in nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.