Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei: Negotiations Are Just Means To 'Bully Governments'; They Are Used To Present New Demands That Are Unacceptable To Iran

In a March 8, 2025, address, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized what he called the double standards in the West, claiming they put Western civilization to shame. He noted that while the West claims there is a free flow of information, certain topics are restricted, such as mentioning the names of Qasem Soleimani, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, or Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, protesting "the crimes perpetrated by the Zionists in Palestine and Lebanon," or denying the "alleged deeds" committed by Nazi Germany against Jews. Khamenei further stated that for some "bully" countries, negotiations are merely a means of presenting new demands, which not only pertain to the nuclear issue but also to Iran’s defensive and international capabilities. He made it clear that Iran would not accept these demands.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: "The double standards in the West put Western civilization to shame, and expose their [false] claims. They claim that there is a free flow of information. Is it really the case? Is there free flow of information in the West today?

"Can you mention in the virtual space, which is owned by the West, the name of Hajj Qasem [Soleimani], of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, or of the martyr [Ismail] Haniyeh? Can you protest the crimes perpetrated by the Zionists in Palestine and Lebanon? Can you deny the alleged deeds done by Hitler's Germany against the Jews?

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"Some bully governments insist on holding negotiations. Their negotiations are not intended to resolve the issues. Rather, they are meant to give orders: 'We will hold negotiations in order to impose what we want on the other side. If they accept it, fine. If not, we will wreak havoc, and say that they have stepped away from and abandoned the negotiations table.'

"It is a means to issue orders. Negotiations are their way of presenting new demands. It does not pertain to the nuclear issue only. They make new demands that will definitely not be accepted by Iran. These demands pertain to our country's defensive and international capabilities."