Iran's supreme leader criticizes US proposal in nuclear talks but
doesn't reject the idea of a deal
[June 04, 2025]
By JON GAMBRELL
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday
criticized an initial proposal from the United States in negotiations
over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, though he stopped short
of entirely rejecting the idea of agreement with Washington.
The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei colored in the red line expressed
over recent days — one that says Tehran refuses to give up enriching
uranium in any possible deal with the U.S.
That demand has been repeatedly made by American officials, including
President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear just how much U.S
Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff brought it up in his initial proposal to
Iran.
But what Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He didn't
reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift
some the crushing economic sanctions it faces.
Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear
enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60% — a short, technical
step from weapons-grade levels.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with
Witkoff, said Tehran soon will offer its response to the U.S. Khamenei's
speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
may serve as a preview.
“If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they
are not usable for us,” Khamenei said. “If we do not have enrichment,
then we should extend our hand (begging) to the U.S.”
Khamenei touched on previous remarks
The 86-year-old Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in
Iran, often balances his remarks over the demands of reformists within
the country who want the talks against hard-line elements within Iran’s
theocracy, including the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Late in August, Khamenei in a speech opened the door to possible talks
with the U.S., saying there is “no harm” in engaging with the “enemy.”
The supreme leader later tempered that, saying that negotiations with
America “are not intelligent, wise or honorable,” after Trump floated
nuclear talks with Tehran.
Khamenei's speech on Wednesday, marking the anniversary of Khomeini's
death, offered an opportunity to discuss Witkoff's proposal. He
described it as “100% against the idea of ‘we can,’” borrowing from an
Iranian government slogan. He described the U.S. as having long sought
the dismantling of Iran’s entire nuclear industry.
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In this photo released by the official website of the office of the
Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves
to the crowd as he arrives for a ceremony marking the anniversary of
the 1989 death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini
at his shrine just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
(Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
“The impolite and insolent American leaders keep repeating this demand
with different wordings," Khamenei said.
He added, using a slogan he's said before: “Those currently in power,
Zionist or American, should be aware that they can’t do a damn thing
about this."
Some nuclear power nations do get uranium from outside suppliers,
however. Experts long have viewed Iran as using its nuclear program as a
chip in negotiations with the West to get sanctions relief.
Details of American proposal are still murky
The details of the American proposal remain unclear after five rounds of
talks between Iran and the U.S.
A report by the news website Axios on the American proposal, the details
of which a U.S. official separately confirmed, include a possible
nuclear consortium that would enrich uranium for Iran and surrounding
nations. Whether Iran would have to entirely give up its enrichment
program remains unclear, as Axios reported that Iran would be able to
enrich uranium up to 3% purity for some time.
A failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle
East already on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Iran's long-ailing economy could enter a free fall that could worsen the
simmering unrest at home. Israel or the U.S. might carry out
long-threatened airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And
Tehran may decide to fully end its cooperation with the United Nations’
nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb.
___
Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to
this report.
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