Khamenei gives government green light to resume “nuclear negotiations”

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei opened the door on Tuesday to resuming negotiations with the United States over his country's nuclear program. Khamenei said in a video clip broadcast by his government's state television that "there is no obstacle to dealing" with its "enemy". He added: "We should not pin our hopes on the enemy, as for our plans, we should not wait for the approval of the enemies, it is not a contradiction to dialogue with the same enemy in some places, there is no obstacle." Ali Khamenei's statements set clear red lines for any talks taking place under the government of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and renewed his warnings that the United States cannot be trusted. Khamenei also warned Pezeshkian's government, saying, "Do not trust the enemy." His current statements are consistent with his earlier statements at the time of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which saw Tehran's nuclear program significantly scaled back in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Recent years have seen indirect talks between Iran and the United States. After the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran abandoned all restrictions on its program and enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, close to weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, and disabled surveillance cameras installed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has blocked some of the Agency's most experienced inspectors from inspecting its nuclear facilities. Iranian officials have also threatened that they may seek to produce nuclear weapons. Source: National Iraqi News Agency