Iran’s supreme leader dismisses US ”hand of friendship,” citing support for Israel

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran would only consider cooperating with the United States if Washington ceased its support for Israel, closed its military bases in the region, and stopped interfering in regional affairs.

Speaking in Tehran on November 3 during a meeting with school and university students marking the National Day of Fighting Against Global Arrogance, Ayatollah Khamenei addressed recent US remarks about potential cooperation with Iran, Tasnim reports. 

“The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran,” Khamenei said, according to state media. “Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the US continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region.”

His comments came in response to statements made in October by US President Donald Trump, who said that Washington was prepared to reach an agreement with Tehran when Iran was ready, noting, “The hand of friendship and cooperation [with Iran] is open.”

The two countries have held five rounds of nuclear talks, but negotiations stalled following a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, during which the US conducted strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

Talks have been hampered by several major sticking points, including uranium enrichment on Iranian soil — an issue Western powers seek to eliminate entirely to prevent any potential weaponization. Tehran has firmly rejected this demand, maintaining that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

By Vafa Guliyeva