Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi waited seven days after the announcement of the preliminary nuclear agreement to make a comment—and then said he would take no position.
He also reiterated that he did not trust the Americans at all, but then said the current negotiations might lead to further talks on all sorts of topics with Washington, a stunning shift in rhetoric that had many wondering what it meant.
And Khamenehi also startled his listeners by insisting that reports that he closely watches over the talks and tightly controls the Iranian negotiators were all false. He said the negotiators operate on their own and that he sets no redlines. A few minutes later he listed seven redlines he has set for the talks. (See article above on Khamenehi’s redlines.)
It was a fascinating, if convoluted speech, which seemed designed to provide something for everyone.
Khamenehi started his remarks by saying: “Some are asking why the Leader has not taken any stance with regard to the recent nuclear negotiations.” Indeed, the whole world had been asking that question for seven straight days.
“The reason for the Leader’s refusal to take a stance is that there is no ground for taking a position because the country’s officials and nuclear negotiators say nothing has yet been done and no binding decision has so far been reached between the two sides,” he said.
Khamenehi said: “If I am asked ‘Do you agree or disagree with the recent nuclear talks?’ I would say I neither agree nor disagree because nothing has happened yet.” His point was the same one that President Obama had made earlier—that the announced “parameters” must be converted into detailed language and that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” a fundamental principle of diplomatic give-and-take.
But a great deal has been agreed to tenatatively, including the dismantling of three-quarters of Iran’s centrifuges, something Khamenehi forbade a few months ago. By taking the stance he did, Khamenehi avoided having to address any of the 42 parameters the US published the previous week.
Khamenehi then shifted to an anti-American screed of the type that is the norm for all of his speeches. “All problems arise at the point details are discussed because the opposite side is obstinate, unreliable, dishonest and into backstabbing. They may put constraints on the country, people and negotiators throughout the discussions about details.”
Khamenehi said, “What has hitherto happened guarantees neither an agreement itself, nor negotiations leading to an agreement, nor the content of an agreement. It does not even guarantee that these talks will end in an agreement. Therefore, extending congratulations is pointless.” That was seen by many as a slap at President Rohani, who had extended congratulations to Khamenehi over the progress in the talks to date.
Khamenehi reiterated his oft-stated pessimism about the talks. “I’ve never been optimistic about negotiations with the US and that is not because of an illusion, but because of experience. If, in the future, the details regarding the ongoing nuclear talks are released, everyone will see where this experience of ours stems from,” he said.
He added: “Although I was not optimistic about negotiations with the US, I supported the talks in this case wholeheartedly and I continue to support [them]. I [will] support one hundred percent an agreement that would guarantee the dignity of the Iranian nation—and if someone says the Leader is opposed to the conclusion of an agreement, he is making untrue remarks.”
Khamenehi then endeavored to put great distance between himself and the “parameters” agreed on early this month. “Sometimes it is said that the details of these negotiations are under the supervision of the Leader. But that remark is not accurate,” he said for the first time.
“I am not indifferent to these negotiations, but I have not interfered in the details of the talks so far and I will not do so from now onwards either,” he added. Khamenehi said: “I have notified mainly the president and in a few cases the foreign minister of [our] main policies—but the details are in their hands.”
“I trust the nuclear negotiators and I have not been doubtful of them so far and, God willing, that will be so in the future, too.”
But, he quickly added, “I am seriously concerned over the nuclear talks.” His said his concern stems from the fact that the United States—the “opposite side,” as he phrased it, a new term for what he has for years called “global arrogance”—is into deception, telling lies, breaking promises and moving in the wrong direction.
“An example of such behavior by the opposite side could be seen in the recent talks. Some two hours after the end of the negotiations, the White House released a statement in several pages, which was untrue in most cases,” a reference to the State Department list of 42 agreed parameters.
He said. “It is not possible to draw up such a statement in two hours. Therefore, they were drafting a distorted and erroneous statement contrary to the content of the negotiations while they were in talks with us.” That reasoning was lost on many listeners. But it was noted that Khamenehi did not cite any specific one of the 42 parameters as wrong.
Khamenehi then raised the possibility of extending the talks beyond the current June 30 deadline. “This three-month deadline is not something that cannot be changed, and there will be no problem if this deadline is extended,” he said. There was no indication why he was raising this option. If the talks are extended, sanctions would continue and any relief for Iran would be postponed yet again.
Khamenehi then broached for the first time the possibility of holding talks with the United States on other topics than the nuclear program, something he has consistently opposed before. “If the opposite side gives up its misconduct, we can continue this experience on other issues. But if the opposite side continues its misconduct, our previous impression regarding a lack of trust in the US will be strengthened.”
Many saw this as an effort to induce the Americans into making more concessions in the nuclear talks.