In his first statement after Saturday’s drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities, Iran’s Supreme Leader reiterates there will be no negotiations with the US “at any level”.

Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly ruled out talks with the Trump Administration, but he added on Monday that any discussions would be a surrender to the Administration’s comprehensive sanctions:

Negotiating would mean Washington imposing its demands on Tehran. It would also be a manifestation of the victory of America’s maximum pressure campaign.

That is why Iranian officials — including the President, the Foreign Minister and others — have unanimously voiced their objection to any talks with the US — be it in a bilateral or a multilateral setting.

With tension rising in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, a series of high-profile attempts have been made by Oman, Japan, Germany and France to broker talks between Washington and Tehran. However, Khamenei has rebuffed all efforts so far, and has derided Donald Trump’s pursuit of a face-to-face appearance with an Iranian leader.

See also Iran Daily, August 21: Macron Tries Again to Mediate Nuclear Deal, US-Tehran Tensions
Iran Daily, June 13: Tehran Rejects Japan’s Mediation; 2 More Tankers Attacked

The Supreme Leader set the condition of a lifting of US sanctions and a return to the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in May 2018, for any talks.

With Trump seeking a photo opportunity, there has been widespread speculation that — despite the rise in tension culminating in Saturday’s attacks on the Saudi oil complexes — he and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani could meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month.