Khamenei: War Will Not Happen and Negotiations with America Are Poison
Iran’s Islamic Republic leader said in a meeting with government officials that there will be no war between Iran and America. Khamenei called negotiations with the Trump administration “double poison.” He emphasized that Iran will not limit its missile capabilities.
Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said on Tuesday, May 14 (Ordibehesht 24), in a meeting with Iran’s government officials that “war with America will not happen.” These remarks come as tensions between Iran and America have intensified. America is pursuing maximum sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Earlier, American media reported that America was considering sending 120,000 troops to the Middle East. This news was denied on Tuesday by Donald Trump, the US President. Trump called the news about sending American soldiers to the Middle East to counter Iran “fake.”
Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, also emphasized in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow that America is not seeking war with Iran, but will continue to impose sanctions against Iran.
“Both Countries Are Not Seeking War”
Iran’s Islamic Republic leader stressed that both Iran and America are not seeking war, as war is not in the interest of Americans. According to Khamenei, the current confrontation between the two countries is “a clash of wills.”
Khamenei, addressing domestic supporters of negotiations with America, once again rejected talks with the Trump administration and called it “poison.” Khamenei said: “As long as America is what it is now, negotiating with the current American government is double poison. Negotiation means dealing and trading, but what America is after are our strengths.”
Iran’s Islamic Republic leader rejected negotiations over Iran’s missile capabilities and emphasized that “no dignified and conscious Iranian would trade away their strengths.” Khamenei also rejected any reduction in “Iran’s strategic depth” in the region. Khamenei said: “So the principle of negotiation is wrong, even with a reasonable person. These people are not even reasonable and are committed to nothing. Of course, no one among our wise men is even looking for negotiations either.”
America views Iran’s interventions in regional countries as a threat to stability in the Middle East and seeks to change Iran’s behavior in this regard.
Khamenei said that America’s hostility began from the start of Iran’s revolution and this country “respects the interests of the Zionist regime more than any other government. Many actions are commanded by the Zionist entity.”
Brian Hook, the US State Department’s Special Representative for Iran, said in an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle on this matter: “If you look at all non-nuclear issues, from missile development and testing to regional aggression, and from human rights violations to arbitrary detention of dual nationals, we and the Europeans are in complete agreement and our assessment of these threats is the same. You have seen this over the past year and since we left the nuclear agreement. Europe has taken a series of measures to counter Iran’s aggression and overreach not only in Europe but in the Middle East.”
Khamenei, highlighting America’s internal problems, said that the Trump administration’s policies toward Europeans and Asian countries have also backfired on Americans, and against the Islamic Republic, America will “definitely be defeated.”
Khamenei called the current confrontation with America beneficial for Iran and, citing some American experts, said that current pressures will result in “economic growth in Iran.”
According to independent experts, if sanctions continue, Iran’s ability to export oil, gas, and petrochemical products will be severely limited, and the country will face budget deficits and foreign exchange shortages.
Source: DW
