Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a sharp condemnation of the Trump administration, calling it unworthy of engagement and firmly rejecting suggestions that Tehran has sought direct contact with Washington.
“Such a government [the United States] is not worthy of being approached or cooperated with by a government like the Islamic Republic,” Khamenei said in a televised address Thursday night, dismissing reports that Iran had sent messages to the U.S. as a “total lie.”
The State Department and Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Why It Matters
Khamenei’s remarks come against the backdrop of severely strained relations between Iran and the United States, following a brief but intense clash with Israel in June. That 12-day conflict, which included U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, derailed fragile nuclear diplomacy and deepened fears about regional instability.
Years of economic sanctions, military brinkmanship and political confrontation have made negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and wider security issues increasingly complex. Khamenei’s speech underscores Tehran’s decision to maintain a hard-line posture in response to U.S. pressure, framing Iran as resilient in the face of both military action and diplomatic isolation.
What To Know
Khamenei insisted that Iran has no intention of pursuing relations or cooperation with what he described as a “warmongering” U.S. government. He specifically rejected interpretations that a message sent earlier this month by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—before the crown prince’s trip to the U.S.—was meant as an indirect communication to Washington, calling that claim a fabrication.
He portrayed the U.S. as an inherently destabilizing actor in the Middle East, criticizing American leaders for interventions that he said have led to war, destruction and the displacement of civilians. In Khamenei’s framing, any dialogue with such a government would be both politically unwise and morally unjustifiable.
The 12-Day War With Israel
Addressing the June confrontation between Iran and Israel, Khamenei characterized the outcome as a strategic setback for both Israel and the United States. The conflict ended on June 24 with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, just two days after Washington launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Khamenei acknowledged that Iran suffered losses, but argued that “the one who started the attack suffered more losses than we did.” He also pushed back against claims that U.S. strikes had significantly crippled Iran’s nuclear program. In October, he dismissed those assertions, telling President Donald Trump to “keep dreaming.”
While the Pentagon has estimated that the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear development by one to two years, earlier assessments suggested that the impact on Iran’s program was relatively limited.
Criticism of U.S. Global Policies
Khamenei expanded his critique beyond the Middle East, attacking Washington’s role in other international crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war. He accused Trump of failing to fulfill promises to resolve the conflict and instead advancing what he described as a “28-point plan” for a war that he claims the U.S. helped fuel.
“Wherever America intervenes, the result is warmongering, genocide, destruction, and displacement,” Khamenei said, casting the United States as a primary driver of global instability.
What Leaders Are Saying
On Thursday, Khamenei reiterated his denial that Iran had sought any secret channel with Washington: “They are creating rumors that Iran sent a message to America through some country—that is a total lie.”
President Donald Trump, however, has recently offered a starkly different narrative. “Iran does want to make a deal,” he said last week. “I think they very badly want to make a deal. I am totally open to it, and we’re talking to them, and we start a process.”
These conflicting statements highlight the depth of mistrust and the competing political incentives on both sides.
What Happens Next
Khamenei’s remarks reinforce the message that, under the current U.S. administration, Tehran will not pursue direct engagement or broad rapprochement. His stance suggests that nuclear talks and regional diplomacy are likely to remain stalled so long as the existing dynamic with Washington persists.
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that Iran is not opposed to dialogue in principle, saying the country remains open to “fair and balanced” negotiations that respect its sovereignty. For now, however, Tehran appears focused on strengthening its military capabilities and shoring up domestic unity—moves intended to project resolve both within the region and on the global stage.
