Iran's supreme leader says he will never negotiate with Trump administration

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, took a page out of President Trump's diplomacy handbook Monday by tweeting his refusal to conduct negotiations with the U.S. Khamenei outlined his disdain for America in a six-part thread on his English-language Twitter account, and he included an infographic detailing the "U.S. formula for negotiation," which slammed the U.S. government for being so focused on "power and money" that they "consider negotiations as a business deal."
Khamenei also spoke in public Monday about Iran and the U.S.'s rocky relationship, saying, "I ban holding any talks with America. ... America never remains loyal to its promises," per Reuters.
Despite the hostilities, Khamenei declared on both Twitter and in a televised address that there will be no war between the two countries. Khamenei's assurance comes three weeks after Trump's explosive tweet telling Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to never threaten the U.S., "or you will suffer consequences."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tensions have been especially high between the two countries since the U.S. backed out of the Iran nuclear deal in May, Newsweek notes. The U.S. announced it was reimposing economic sanctions against Iran last week, putting pressure on Europe to choose between American and Iranian markets.
Although Khamenei tweeted that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were "impossible," he said that if talks were to happen, they would "never ever be with the current U.S. administration." Read more at Reuters.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Marianne is The Week’s Social Media Editor. She is a native Tennessean and recent graduate of Ohio University, where she studied journalism and political science. Marianne has previously written for The Daily Beast, The Crime Report, and The Moroccan Times.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 22, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bricking it, I can buy myself flowers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 exclusive cartoons about Trump and Putin negotiating peace
Cartoons Artists take on alternative timelines, missing participants, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The AI arms race
Talking Point The fixation on AI-powered economic growth risks drowning out concerns around the technology which have yet to be resolved
By The Week UK Published
-
Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection
Speed Read The longest-serving Senate party leader is retiring
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump reportedly wants to take over US Postal Service
Speed Read President Trump is making plans to disband the leadership of USPS and absorb the agency into his administration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published