Skip to main content
Analysis

Is Khamenei opening door for nuclear talks as Iran FM floats revisions?

The Iranian leader signaled willingness to talk to the West about the country's nuclear program less than a week after new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is room to revise the agreement.

TEHRAN, IRAN - JULY 5: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on July 5, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. The second round of Iran's presidential elections was held while no candidate won the majority of votes in the first round of elections last month. In the second round, Saeed Jalili, who is known as a radical candidate, faced Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on July 5, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) — Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

TEHRAN — Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaled openness to talks on nuclear program while insisting that the Islamic Republic cannot pin its hopes on its enemies.

Khamenei made his comments on Tuesday as he met with the newly inaugurated administration headed by moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

Calling Western countries the "enemy," the Iranian leader said they should not be trusted. 

"We should not trust the enemy," Khamenei said right before adding that "this does not mean that we cannot interact with the same enemy in certain situations." “There is no harm in that, but do not place your hopes in them.”

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish