NYT: Iran's leader agreed to talks with the US under pressure from senior officials
Ali Khamenei (Photo: STR)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has consented to discuss a nuclear agreement with the United States due to pressure from officials within the country, as reported by The New York Times, citing anonymous sources knowledgeable about the situation.
The article indicated that Iran was contemplating a reply to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump concerning the negotiations around the nuclear deal. This prompted Iranian President Masoud Pezizkian, along with the leaders of the judiciary and parliament, to meet with Khamenei last month.
Khamenei has consistently publicly prohibited cooperation with Washington, labeling it as foolish and unreasonable. Senior officials during their meeting urged him to reconsider his stance, according to two Iranian officials.
High-ranking officials have pressed Khamenei to permit Tehran to engage in negotiations with Washington, even if it requires direct communication, as failure to do so could lead to the downfall of the Islamic Republic’s regime.
The potential for conflict with the United States and Israel is extremely serious, officials have cautioned. Should Tehran decline to negotiate or if the talks fail, officials have informed Khamenei that military strikes on Iran’s two primary nuclear sites, Natanz and Fordow, are unavoidable.
In such a scenario, Iran would be compelled to retaliate, escalating the risk of a broader conflict, a situation that could harm the economy and incite domestic upheaval, including protests and strikes, the officials noted. A two-front conflict poses a threat to the regime’s survival, they stated.
By the conclusion of the lengthy meeting, Khamenei relented. He granted his authorization for negotiations to begin, initially in an indirect manner through a mediator, and subsequently, if successful, for direct discussions between the United States and Iran, according to media reports.
- On March 7, Trump expressed his desire to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Iran, and on Thursday, March 6, he sent a letter to the leadership of the country.
- On March 19, CNN reported that Trump had given Iran two months to finalize the agreement and suggested that military action could resolve the issue.
- On March 28, Iran threatened to target U.S. military bases should Trump resort to force against the nation.
- On March 30, Iran dismissed the idea of direct negotiations with the U.S. concerning its nuclear program.
- On April 8, Reuters revealed that Iranian officials were skeptical about discussions with Trump regarding its nuclear agenda.
