MADRID – At a recent conference, Ayatollah Seiyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, had the opportunity to clearly and firmly clarify his stance on a potential meeting with the United States.
Leaders essentially ruled out such consultations and recalled Washington’s past commitments and the inefficiency of bilateral negotiations. “Negotiations with the US will not resolve issues, including economic and self-sufficiency challenges, as they have not resolved them in the past,” he said. According to Ayatollah Khamenei, the key to overcoming the difficulties of the country is not in dialogue with Washington, but in “the decisions of dedicated officials and cooperation of unified people.”
The mention of negotiations was not a coincidence. In recent months, internal debates about the possibility of resuming in-person meetings with the US seemed to have gained momentum in certain Iranian political sectors. However, Ayatollah Khamenei was clear about this issue. He said those defending the option are trying to present consultations with Fickle Americans as an inevitable solution. “The focus of these arguments is on negotiations with the US and presenting them as positive, as if someone is against the idea that they are negotiating themselves,” he points out. did. He further revealed that Iran is engaged in dialogue and agreements with the United States and many countries, explicitly except Israel.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech revealed that re-engagement with Washington is not only unnecessary, but counterproductive for Iranian authorities. “Some people try to make people believe that when they sit at the negotiation table, a particular problem will be resolved. But the reality we must understand is that negotiations with the US are the countries. It doesn’t affect the resolution of the problem,” he reiterated. Nevertheless, his words suggest a refusal to close the door to attempts at direct dialogue in the short term, at least for now.
The leader made his statement by mentioning one of the most important episodes in the history of relations between the two countries in recent years: a breakdown of the 2015 nuclear deal known by the English acronym JCPOA. It concludes. He not only pointed out that the Trump administration unilaterally withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, but also for President Barack Obama’s administration not supporting the very commitment he agreed to. I was responsible for this. “The previous US government, which had accepted the agreement before Trump, also did not comply. The US sanctions that were supposed to be lifted were not removed, and the UN issues remained thorny, and always remained a threat to Iran. It exists,” he accused.
A long history of Washington’s deceit and injustice
Ayatollah Khamenei’s words reflect his country’s deep-rooted distrust of the United States. It is not irrational, but based on a history of broken promises and hostile attitudes from Washington.
Understanding this distrust requires, on the one hand, to look back at Iran’s modern history and analyse the subordination that the Pahlavi regime maintained with the United States. Meanwhile, it is important to look into the ideas of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. His speeches and writings at various stages of his struggle, in his view, show how revitalization of Islam can reduce the impact of Iranian colonial power and foreign interventions. Kajar monarchy.
The subordinate relationship between Pahlabi Iran and Iran, particularly under Shah Mohammad Reza, explains that the Islamic Revolution of 1979 should be understood from an epistemological perspective. This means that its purpose is not merely to overthrow the monarchy, but to replace the hegemonic political grammar of the West.
In this historical context, the 1953 coup stands as an important milestone. On August 19th of that year, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosadegu was expelled in a coup organized and funded by the British and US governments. The Shah quickly returned from exile to regain power, resulting in more than 40% of Iran’s oil fields being handed over to US companies. From that moment on, the growing economic presence with the United States and military relations granted diplomatic immunity to US military personnel and their families, particularly through decisions such as the 1964 Majles (Congress). . The law caused a strong dig, culminating in Imam Khomeini’s famous protest speech in QOM, marking a turning point in conflict with the Pallavi regime.
Iran’s identity, as mentioned earlier, is firmly rooted in an anti-imperialist vision that traces its origins in many attempts to rule the country. In this regard, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran leaves no debate about foreign interference: “Agreement of any form that brings foreign control over the country’s natural resources, economy, military, culture and other aspects. The lives of the people that bring about it are prohibited.”
Another important episode of Iran-US relations was the 1979-1981 seizures at the US embassy in Tehran. According to many experts, it represents a moment of national humiliation that is engraved on the American spirit. It influences the analysis of bilateral relations. From an Iranian perspective, the embassy acquisition can be explained by the aforementioned history of the Pahlavi dynasty’s subordination to the United States and the perception that the United States poses a threat to the newly established Islamic Republic.
Over the years, other episodes have integrated American imagery as unreliable actors. Its main goal was to promote a “change of government” in Iran. The US support for Iraq during the Iran and Iraq wars in the 1980s, the numerous economic sanctions imposed on the country, and the inclusion of Iran into the so-called “axis of evil” during George W. Bush’s presidency, was a political issue. This is an example of the will. These actions not only reflect interference in Iran’s internal affairs, but also positive efforts to promote alternative political models that replace the current composition of the Islamic Republic.
Nevertheless, this distrust of the US was eased in 2015, when Iran signed a nuclear deal and showed Tehran’s willingness to negotiate. However, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2018 Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA) reaffirms that from an Iranian perspective, the United States is not a reliable actor in international politics and bilateral agreements.
The assassination of Lt. Gen. Kasem Soleimani, the highly respected commander of the QUDS forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards in the hands of the US in 2020 during the Trump administration, was deeply rooted in the collective memories of Iranians, particularly Iranians. It remains. Political authorities responsible for determining potential negotiations with Washington.
The words of the Iranian leader reveal this historical experience of interference and the lack of goodwill on the part of the US, making it extremely difficult for the Islamic Republic to trust the outcome of bilateral negotiations.
The fact that Donald Trump signed an anti-Iranian president’s memorandum of understanding, imposing new sanctions and threatened to “eliminate” Iran as soon as he took office this year, would still put a step in order to gain Tehran’s trust. It indicates that you are not ready to take it. As long as Washington relies solely on threats and economic pressures, it is unlikely that Iran will be willing to sit at the negotiation table.