In a meeting with government officials of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said this evening that the Islamic Republic will not negotiate with the west under threats and sanctions.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that it is important to consider the realities which form the boundaries between the Iranian nation and the arrogant powers in order to conduct an appropriate analysis of internal and international issues.
He further stated that these realities show that the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic have continued to adhere to the path, principles and goals of the Revolution and the Imam (r.a.) while the opposing camp has shown some changes.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the declining power of the enemies of the Iranian nation and the increasing progress of the Islamic Republic is a fact that is worthy of contemplation.
He added: "The anti-Iranian camp falsely calls itself the international community. But the US and the Zionist regime are the only axes of this camp."
His Eminence stated that opposition can be fundamental or superficial and added that the Zionist regime and the US have a fundamental problem with the Islamic Republic.
He added: "Fundamental opposition is in fact opposition that is against existence. And just as we consider the Zionist regime as a usurping and fake regime that is doomed to fall, the Zionist regime is also opposed to the existence of the Islamic Republic."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that despite all the claims made by the US that the Islamic Republic should change its behavior, the US view of the Islamic Republic is based on its opposition to the existence of the Islamic system. "And in the same manner, the Islamic Republic also rejects and considers as unacceptable the arrogant and domineering attitude of the US."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that lack of public support in the world is one of the reasons behind the declining power of the enemies of the Islamic Republic and added: "The hatred of the world's nations towards the US and the Zionist regime, their failure in military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine in recent years, going into massive economic recession, failure of their policies in the Middle East including in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon, the decreasing self-confidence of the US and Israeli officials, and the confusion surrounding US decisions about such issues as whether or not to continue the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan - these are some of the examples of the declining power of the enemies of the Iranian nation."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further stated that the Islamic Republic has made several achievements in scientific and technological fields.
His Eminence also referred to the unique support of the Muslim nations for the Islamic Republic and added that the Iranian nation is full of hope for the future and will continue its movement by relying on its successful political experience in the Middle East and other parts of the world. "These realities are indicative of the increasing progress of the Islamic Republic."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the importance of thought, acumen and planning in dealing with the enemies and added that the enemies of the Iranian nation also make plans in order to oppose the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Khamenei further referred to economic pressure, military threats, psychological warfare and creating political disorder as some of the foreigners' plans and added: "Besides all these plans - that is sanctions, threats and resolutions - the US speaks of its readiness to engage in negotiations."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US has tried all these methods during the past three decades and added: "The sanctions against Iran during the past thirty years, constant threats during the term of different US presidents, the poisonous propaganda against Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Iranian nation, and the acts of vandalism and riots which were carried out by the enemies' elements in the country during the past years are indicative of the fact that the US is still making use of the same old policies in order to confront the Iranian nation."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the readiness of the US to engage in negotiations is not anything new and added that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not engage in negotiations under pressure and threats.
His Eminence stated: "Of course the Islamic Republic engaged in negotiations with the US about the issue of Iraq and another issue which they referred to as an important security concern. But those experiences show that the US will resort to bullying and unilateral ending of negotiations whenever it is faced with reasoning and logical reasons."
Ayatollah Khamenei said: "We have rejected negotiations with the US for clear reasons. This is because engaging in negotiations under threats and pressure is in fact not considered negotiations. And it is due to the same reason that the honorable officials of the country have stated that the Islamic Republic is ready to engage in negotiations but not with a US that is seeking to conduct negotiations under threats, sanctions and bullying."
Ayatollah Khamenei further reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to start negotiations provided that the US abandons its domineering attitude and puts an end to threats and sanctions and does not impose its goals on the negotiations.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added that US officials should know that they cannot exert pressure on the Islamic Republic. "The Islamic Republic will not give in to pressure and will respond to any type of pressure in its own way," he noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei further touched on the issue of nuclear energy and said that producing nuclear energy is a natural right of the Iranian nation. He further stressed: "The Iranian nation and officials will not give up this right. And hopefully they will pursue this natural right by building nuclear plants and producing the required fuel inside the country."
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the remarks by the US officials about providing the fuel required by Iran are unreasonable and senseless.
His Eminence referred to the untruthfulness of the foreign powers in the issue of providing the twenty-percent enriched fuel needed for Tehran's reactor and added: "Based on global norms of transaction, we purchased the fuel required for this plant about two decades ago. But as soon as they felt that we needed this fuel again, they started a bad game. Of course this great mistake by the west and the US harmed them in the end."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that Iran was consequently encouraged to produce the required fuel itself and added that the unreliability of the US and other producers of nuclear fuel was proven to the Islamic Republic in the issue. "These were the clear results of the game that was started by the west in the issue of providing the twenty-percent enriched fuel required by Iran. And it was proven to everyone that these countries cannot be trusted."
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on America's military threat against Iran and said: "It is unlikely that they will commit such folly, but everybody should know that if this threat is carried out, the Iranian nation's response will not be limited to our region-the scope of this confrontation will be wider."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described America's negative propaganda about violation of human rights in Iran as ridiculous and added: "As they showed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine, they have no respect at all for human life, but they are insolent enough to talk about violation of human rights in Iran."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that the government officials have adopted firm and appropriate measures to confront the enemy's plans, including economic sanctions. He further added: "The government officials have adopted very appropriate decisions to confront the resolution and the unilateral sanctions by America and Europe. And by Allah's favor, these measures and our unity and solidarity will help turn these sanctions into an opportunity."
His Eminence said that in order to reach this goal it is important to increase and improve national production. "Imports should be managed appropriately, and if necessary, the Majlis should reform the regulations in this regard."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that rationalism, acumen and courage play a crucial role in confronting the enemies' plots and reiterated: "We should continue our path in a wise, courageous, determined and firm manner and keep the bright future prospects in mind."
His Eminence said that unity and solidarity are the factors that the nation and the Islamic Republic can rely on during the movement started by the Revolution. "Unity and solidarity among our government officials is an obligation, and it is against sharia to deliberately oppose this obligation."
He touched on the enemies' efforts to turn small disagreements into big issues, further adding: "It is not a disaster for the administration and the Majlis to have differences of opinion regarding different issues. Rather, it is the turning of these differences of opinion into unbridgeable gaps and insoluble problems that is a great mistake."
The Leader further added: "Some time ago, I demanded that the Guardian Council should intervene when the administration and the Majlis have disagreements so that the issues are resolved through clarifying the scope of their authority and responsibility and the constitutional principle of separation of powers is realized."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that it is important to adhere to the principles and not play into the enemy's hands. He further reiterated: "The enemy is trying to make the people lose their trust in government officials, and nobody should speak in a way that makes the people suspect the administration, the Majlis and the judiciary."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also criticized those who question official figures without having any evidence and reiterated: "It is necessary to avoid actions that undermine public trust."
At the end of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "All the factors and measures that were mentioned will be effective only if we rely on divine power and have complete trust in His promise of support. And the Iranian nation and the officials of the Islamic Republic will continue this glorious path by relying on this element of dignity."