Ahead of the Iranian President’s speech at the United Nations

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, affirmed that negotiations with the United States are not genuine negotiations, stressing the need not to forget the experience of the past ten years. He added that negotiating with America over the nuclear issue—and possibly other issues as well—is a completely dead-end path.

“If you negotiate with the other side and accept what it wants, that means surrender, the weakening of the country, and the destruction of the nation’s honor. The one who speaks to you in the language of threats—if you accept his threats, this will be the result. And if you do not accept them, we will be as we are now: in a state of ongoing conflict and struggle.”

“Therefore, these are not real negotiations. Do not forget the experiences, do not forget the experience of the past ten years.”

“The issue before us now is America. As for Europe, I do not wish to raise the matter now. This party before us breaks its promises in everything, lies about everything, and practices deception. It threatens militarily day and night, and if it can, it assassinates individuals or bombs nuclear facilities.”

“With such a party, negotiation is impossible. It is impossible to sit with it in trust and confidence to talk or to sign an agreement. In my view, negotiations with America regarding the nuclear issue—and perhaps other issues—are a completely dead-end path, with no correct or viable route.”

“It is a dead-end. They (the Americans) must think, realize, and deal with it. For them, negotiations are useful. They benefit the current U.S. president, who will raise his head and say: ‘I threatened Iran and forced it to sit at the negotiating table.’ He will take pride in this before the world. But for us, it is pure harm, bringing us no benefit whatsoever.”