Oct 7, 2015

In a post-nuclear deal Iran, where the taboo of Iranian and American officials meeting face to face is broken, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continues to warn of the dangers that American influence will bring to the country. In a speech Oct. 7 with commanders and officers from Iran’s navy, Khamenei said, “Negotiating with America is forbidden, because not only does this negotiation not have any benefits, but it has innumerable harms.”

While Khamenei gave the green light for negotiations with the United States in regard to the nuclear talks, in which Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry conducted a number of bilateral talks, he has so far ruled out talks with the United States on regional issues.

In the Oct. 7 speech, Khamenei warned, “The biggest plans and most efforts of the arrogant powers is for enmity with the Islamic system of Iran, and America’s claims to negotiations with Iran is within this framework and for influence.” Without mentioning names, Khamenei said there are “easy-minded” individuals in Iran who are unaware of this issue and ignore their own country’s national interests.

Khamenei also dismissed the arguments of those in favor of negotiating with the United States who say that historic religious figures such as Imam Ali and Imam Hussein, the first and third imams in Shiite Islam, both negotiated with their enemies. Khamenei said they did not negotiate or trade with the opposing sides but rather “advised them to fear God.” He added, “Unfortunately, in order to justify Iranian negotiations with the Great Satan, some present the situation like this in newspapers, speeches and social media, which is completely wrong.”

According to Khamenei, negotiating with Europe is different than negotiating with America because, “negotiating with America means to open the path for influence in the fields of economy, culture, politics and security.”