Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a strong warning to the United States, stating that if the US threatens Iran’s security, Tehran will retaliate in kind. Speaking at an event for the Iranian Air Force in Tehran on February 7, 2025, Khamenei made it clear that Iran would not tolerate any actions against its security.
Khamenei’s remarks come in response to ongoing tensions with the US, particularly following US President Donald Trump‘s recent statements. Trump had suggested the possibility of nuclear negotiations with Iran, but Khamenei dismissed these talks as “not intelligent, wise or honorable.” He went on to criticize the US for what he described as the American approach of redrawing the global map without any real basis.
“The Americans sit, redrawing the map of the world — but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality,” Khamenei said. “They make statements about us, express opinions and issue threats. If they threaten us, we will threaten them in return. If they act on their threats, we will act on ours. If they violate the security of our nation, we will, without a doubt, respond in kind.”
While Khamenei stopped short of giving a direct order to avoid negotiations with the United States, his statement suggests that Iran is unlikely to engage in talks under current conditions. His comments marked a clear reversal from earlier statements in August 2024, where Khamenei had seemed to open the door for negotiations with the US.
The Supreme Leader’s remarks were also at odds with those of Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. Just a day before Khamenei’s speech, Pezeshkian had campaigned for greater engagement with the West, even suggesting that Iran might consider additional nuclear inspections by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Khamenei’s hardened stance is in part a response to President Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which had been brokered under former President Barack Obama. Under the agreement, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. However, Trump’s decision to unilaterally exit the deal in 2018 and reimpose severe sanctions on Iran led to the collapse of the agreement.
In his speech, Khamenei underscored that the US had failed to uphold its commitments under the deal, highlighting that Trump’s administration had ripped up the agreement despite Iran’s concessions. “The Americans did not uphold their end of the deal,” Khamenei said, adding that Iran’s experience with the agreement had shown that negotiations with the US do not yield satisfactory results.
“We negotiated, we gave concessions, we compromised — but we did not achieve the results we aimed for. And despite all its flaws, the other side ultimately violated and destroyed the agreement,” Khamenei lamented.
Khamenei’s statement also follows a flurry of recent comments from President Trump, who, while signing an executive order to reimpose his “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran, hinted at a willingness to negotiate. “I’m going to sign it, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much,” Trump remarked from the Oval Office on February 4. He emphasized that he did not wish to be tough on Iran but maintained that Tehran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump later made an online post saying that reports of a potential military strike on Iran, in collaboration with Israel, were “greatly exaggerated.” He expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution, writing, “I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper.”
Despite the conflicting messages from both sides, it remains uncertain how the situation will unfold. The dynamic between Iran’s hardline leadership, led by Khamenei, and the reformist factions represented by President Pezeshkian, continues to shape the country’s approach to diplomacy. The outcome of this tug-of-war could influence Iran’s future interactions with the US and the West as a whole.
It is also unclear what prompted Khamenei’s latest comments, though they seem to be a direct response to Trump’s recent executive order and public statements. Khamenei, who leads Iran’s complex political structure, is known for issuing indirect comments that guide policy without making explicit decisions. His remarks underscore the broader internal debate within Iran about how to balance relations with the West, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues like nuclear development.
In any case, Khamenei’s words highlight the deep-seated mistrust between Tehran and Washington. Despite attempts by some Iranian officials, like President Pezeshkian, to explore dialogue, Khamenei’s rhetoric signals that Iran is unlikely to engage in negotiations unless the US demonstrates a clear commitment to honoring agreements.
Iran has faced intense pressure from the international community over its nuclear program, and its leadership remains divided over how best to respond to the West. While reformists see diplomacy as a potential path to easing sanctions and resolving tensions, hardliners like Khamenei view negotiations with the US as a futile endeavor.
As this high-stakes diplomatic standoff continues, the world watches closely to see whether a path to dialogue will emerge or whether tensions will escalate further.