Alwaght-Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Al-Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, declared that he is not optimistic regarding any agreement concerning the nuclear negotiations. He said that he did not believe that the sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran would be lifted “even if the talks continue on the basis of what they dictate.”
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized previously, in January, that the sanctions must be lifted for any agreement to be reached. Otherwise, the Islamic Republic’s “Resistant Economy” will continue to challenge the global sanctions by improving its economy.
He said in a public speech in Tehran, 'The enemy is using the lever of sanctions to the hilt and their goal is to stop our people's progress." "I believe that if we allow them to dictate to us on the nuclear issue, they will still keep the sanctions in place, because what they are against is the very foundation of our revolution."
The Supreme Leader tweeted, “Reliance on oil revenues should be cut off — reliance should be on domestic production and taxes. There shouldn’t be tax evasion among the rich.”
Earlier, the European Union re-imposed the sanctions on the National Iranian Tanker Company. The European Union revoked its decision, arguing that “the company has close ties to the state.”
The ongoing negotiations have two deadlines: one for a political agreement that ends in March, and the other for a final technical agreement that ends in June, regarding the sanctions and the Iranian guarantees.
An Iranian political analyst close to Ayatollah Khamenei, Hamid Reza Taraghi, said that the supreme leader’s remark meant that there will be no compromise, if the sanctions remain unlifted. Mr. Taraghi said, “Just recently, new sanctions were imposed against Iranian tankers.” “Our leader suspects that sanctions will not be lifted in one go, and if such measures continue, there will clearly be no nuclear solutions.”
The supreme leader refused the so-called solution in two phases where sanctions would remain temporarily when a deal culminates. He agreed only to a single agreement instead of multiple deadlines.
Marziyeh Afkham, spokesperson of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said that Iran seeks a permanent solution with possible discussion between deadlines. “I emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing one agreement that should be the final agreement; of course, this does not contradict with creating understanding.”
The Senior Advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Akbar Velayati, said, "The United States should not think or publicize that negotiations are a concession it is giving to Iran. It is them [Americans] who need to negotiate in order to take the talks to the point they are after.” He added that only the Americans decide whether to stay or leave the negotiations, and that “it was them who asked for such negotiations and we responded to this request based on international regulations.” Velayati stressed that “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not give up its nuclear Iran.”
Ayatollah Khamenei addressed the issue of ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria. He rejected the claim that the United States are fighting ISIS. He said that there are pictures showing Washington’s arms supplies to the terrorist group contradicting the coalition’s claim. "They created al-Qaeda and ISIS in order to create divisions and use them to fight against the Islamic Republic, but today, they have turned on them (ISIS)," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, the Top Military Advisor to the Supreme Leader, said that the Coalition “lacks the sufficient power and capability to counter the terrorist groups.” He also dismissed the Western claims that the coalition strikes aided the Iraqi government evict the terrorists from some areas. It is the Iraqi volunteer forces, along with the Iranian military consultations, that made these gains against ISIS. He stated that, “Currently, the coalition that has been formed against ISIS actually lacks the offensive power and it is Iran’s consultations to the Iraqi government that (have made it capable of benefiting from) volunteer forces in attacking ISIS.”
One of the most internationally recognized leaders is Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. The man who was the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 1989, and has been Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989. During this global turmoil around terrorism, there is no doubt that Iran occupies a unique and important position with respect to many aspects (international affairs, petro-economy, regional conflicts, Islamic matters, etc.).
It is the wisdom and charisma of the Supreme Leader that has led the Islamic Republic to this position regionally and internationally. He has always urged the Iranian people to continue in their resistance against all the global sanctions. Iran has succeeded in becoming among the most renowned countries in the region despite the more than 30 years of sanctions.
Ever since his election as a Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Al-Khamenei was the strongest contender to the Imperialism. He was always been the supporter of the oppressed people, such as the Palestinians, Lebanese, Iraqi, Syrian, etc. The Islamic republic, led by the Supreme Leader, has always stood firmly beside the oppressed. Since his presidential period until now, he refused to submit to the United States’ agenda to overthrow the Islamic Republic wit conspiracies, sanctions or proxy wars. This has made his Eminence the main obstacle in the face of the Zionist-West plans. President Rouhani has been “diplomatic” concerning the negotiations with the West; however, the main decision is always in the hand of the Supreme Leader. Each time the West tries to find new ways to oppress the nation, Ayatollah Khamenei will always defy and hinder them with his wisdom and intelligence.
