‘Negotiating with the U.S. not wise, intelligent or honorable’ picked as Leader’s statement of the year

During a meeting with commanders of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Army on February 7, Ayatollah Khamenei declared, “Negotiating with the United States is neither wise, intelligent, nor honorable. The reason? Experience!”

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with commanders, staff, and airmen from the Iranian Army’s Air Force and Air Defense Force in Tehran, February 7.

Tehran, IRNA – In a recent survey, the audience of KHAMENEI.IR selected a statement by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on negotiations with the United States as the most significant remark of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for the calendar year 1403.

During a meeting with commanders of the Iranian Army’s Air Force and Air Defense on February 7, Ayatollah Khamenei declared, “Negotiating with the United States is neither wise, nor intelligent, nor honorable. The reason? Experience!”

The Leader was explaining the rationale behind not engaging negotiations with the U.S., particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, who reinstated a “maximum pressure” policy against Iran soon after taking office for a second term in January. The policy was first introduced during Trump’s initial term when he withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that such negotiations would not address Iran’s economic challenges.

He stated, “We must understand this correctly: We should not be led to believe that sitting at the negotiating table with that government will resolve certain issues. No, negotiating with the U.S. will not solve any problems.”