GPS News
NUKEWARS
Iran's Khamenei slams 'bullying' after Trump threats
Iran's Khamenei slams 'bullying' after Trump threats
By Ramin KHANIZADEH
Tehran (AFP) Mar 8, 2025

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday slammed what he described as bullying tactics a day after US President Donald Trump threatened military action.

"Some bully governments -- I really don't know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying -- insist on negotiations," Khamenei told officials after Trump threatened military action if Iran refuses to engage in talks on its nuclear programme.

"Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems, they aim at domination," Khamenei said.

On Friday, Trump said he had written to Iran's supreme leader, urging new talks on the country's nuclear programme but warning of possible military action if it refuses.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had yet to receive any letter from the US president by Saturday.

"We have heard of it (the letter) but we haven't received anything," he told state television.

Khamenei accused the bullying powers of deliberately setting new conditions they did not expect Iran to meet.

"They are setting new expectations that they think will definitely not be met by Iran," he said, without naming the United States or referring to Trump's comments.

On Friday, Araghchi told AFP in an interview that Iran would not negotiate under "maximum pressure".

The policy, reinstated by Trump on his return to the White House in January, saw him reimpose sweeping sanctions on Tehran during his first term after abandoning the nuclear accord formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Struck between Tehran and major powers in 2015, the deal had offered relief from sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear activities.

Tehran has in recent months engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European parties to the deal -- Britain, France and Germany -- aimed at resolving issues surrounding its nuclear ambitions.

However on Saturday, Khamenei condemned the three governments for "declaring that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA".

"You say that Iran has not fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA. Okay, have you fulfilled your commitments under the JCPOA?" he asked.

- Peaceful nature -

Khamenei recalled that Tehran had abided by the terms of the JCPOA for a whole year after Trump abandoned it in 2018 before beginning to roll back on its own commitments.

He said there had been "no other way" following legislation by the Iranian parliament.

Iran has since sharply ramped up its enrichment of uranium far beyond the limits set by the JCPOA.

US officials now estimate that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within weeks if it chose to do so.

Tehran has consistently denied pursuing a nuclear arsenal, emphasising the peaceful nature of its programme.

Officials have always cited a religious decree issued by Khamenei that prohibits the development of such weapons.

Last month, Khamenei reiterated his opposition to negotiations with the United States, calling the idea "unwise" after Trump called for a new nuclear deal.

Khamenei charged that Washington "ruined, violated, and tore up" the 2015 agreement.

In 2019, more than a year after Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, Japan's then prime minister Shinzo Abe visited Iran in an attempt to mediate.

But Khamenei firmly rejected the possibility of talks with Washington, saying he did not "consider Trump as a person worthy of exchanging messages with".

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
NUKEWARS
Iran says would consider limited nuclear talks with US
Washington (AFP) Mar 9, 2025
Iran said Sunday it would consider nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only as they pertained to external concerns of the "potential militarization" of the program - rather than a total shutdown. The post on X by Iran's mission to the United Nations came a day after the country's supreme leader slammed what he described as "bullying" tactics insisting on negotiations, after US President Donald Trump threatened military action. "If the objective of negotiations is to address concern ... read more

NUKEWARS
Plan B: Pakistan beekeepers widen pursuit of flowers

China says to impose fresh tariffs on US agricultural imports

China says to slap fresh tariffs on Canadian farm, food products

Peru farmer confident ahead of German court battle with energy giant

NUKEWARS
Light from engineered quantum structures

Quantum leap: computing's next frontier takes form

Malaysia signs deal with Arm to bolster chip ambitions

Scientists unlock the mysteries of chiral helimagnets for advanced electronics

NUKEWARS
Taiwan training jets resume flights after crash; Philippine fighter wreckage, crew bodies found

Taiwan detects record 11 Chinese balloons near island

Families of MH370 victims in China seek end to decade of 'torment'

Sweden to send Gripen jets to help patrol Polish airspace

NUKEWARS
EU emissions reprieve for carmakers may slow EV shift

Europe to protect auto sector from 'mortal danger': EU industry chief

EU proposes emission rule delay to spare carmakers from fines

Paris imposes car-sharing lane on congested ring road

NUKEWARS
China to 'firmly counter' US trade pressure, foreign minister warns

China tariffs aimed at Trump fan base, but leave wiggle room

China, Canada retaliate against Trump's 'dumb' tariff war

Sri Lanka signs $2.5b debt deal with Japan

NUKEWARS
Amazon tree loss may worsen both floods and droughts: study

Burn land or plant trees? Bolivian farmers weigh their options

Nepal community fights to save sacred forests from cable cars

Colombian deforestation picks up after record low level

NUKEWARS
Chinese Remote Sensing Constellation Expands for Global Market

US embassies end pollution data popular in China and India

Eyes in the Sky: Kanyini's First Images Mark Milestone for SA Satellite

Fleet Space Expands Exploration Capabilities with Acquisition of HiSeis

NUKEWARS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.