Iran’s Khamenei Opens Door to Nuclear Negotiations with ‘Enemy’ U.S.

Iran’s supreme leader has hinted that he is willing to engage in new negotiations with the U.S. over his country’s nuclear program, even as he cautioned his government against trusting Washington.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday there was ‘no barrier’ to reengaging with his longtime adversary, The Associated Press reports.

But Khamenei, who has ultimate authority over Iran’s political and military affairs, set clear boundaries for any potential dialogue that may take place under the government of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“We do not have to pin our hope to the enemy. For our plans, we should not wait for approval by the enemies,” Khamenei said in a televised speech. “It is not contradictory to engage the same enemy in some places, there’s no barrier.”

Khamenei’s comments are reminiscent of the 2015 nuclear deal, when Tehran agreed to substantial restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

But that deal fell apart after the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, leading to a rapid escalation in Iran’s nuclear activities.

It is uncertain how much room Pezeshkian will have to negotiate at a time the conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no sign of ending, and soon after Iran—which has long supported Hamas—launched an unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel.

Despite the hard-line stance historically taken by Iran’s leadership, Khamenei’s latest remarks could provide President Pezeshkian with the political cover needed to explore diplomatic solutions.

Pezeshkian, who came to power after a helicopter crash killed his predecessor, has called for reengaging the West through negotiations, a stance that was key to his election campaign.

Pezeshkian’s new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was a key figure in the 2015 deal, suggesting that the administration may be serious about pursuing a diplomatic path.

Iran’s former Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who also played a pivotal role in the 2015 negotiations, appeared alongside Pezeshkian’s Cabinet during the meeting with Khamenei, signaling a potential return to the negotiating table.

The U.S. State Department has yet to comment on Khamenei’s remarks. However, indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran have continued in recent years, facilitated by regional intermediaries like Oman and Qatar.

But the path to any new agreement remains fraught with obstacles as Iran continues to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels.

The challenge now is for the two countries to find common ground in an increasingly unstable region.