In a forceful address on Sunday in Tehran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused the United States of pressing Tehran into "obedience," labeling direct negotiations as "offensive." The official news agency IRNA reported that he said US hostility has persisted since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and dismissed calls for face-to-face talks.
Khamenei pointed to a June 13 attack on Iranian soil and alleged that U.S.-linked groups held a meeting in a European capital the following day to map out a "post-Islamic Republic" blueprint, even floating a return to monarchy. "Their plans failed," he said, crediting the resilience of the Iranian people and state institutions for thwarting foreign designs.
The Supreme Leader urged domestic unity and called on citizens to support President Masoud Pezeshkian, warning that external adversaries were eager to exploit divisions at home. "Our strength lies in solidarity," he stressed, framing unity as Iran's best defense against external meddling.
Turning to regional conflicts, Khamenei condemned Israel's campaign in Gaza and urged Western states to halt support for what he described as "aggression." He also praised actions by Yemen's Houthi movement against Israel as a justified response to ongoing violence in the coastal enclave.
As tensions simmer in the Middle East, Iran's leadership is doubling down on a strategy of sovereignty and resistance. With calls for national cohesion and pointed critiques of foreign powers, Khamenei's latest address underscores Tehran's resolve amid mounting global pressures.
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Khamenei says U.S. seeks Iran's 'obedience,' rejects direct talks
cgtn.com
