
Two-minute read
“The difference between the Iranian nation and many other nations is that we have the courage to say that America is an aggressor, a liar, a deceiver, an arrogant power—Death to America!” declared Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a speech on February 2. His remarks were followed by a chorus of MPs and government officials, doubling down on an uncompromising stance against negotiations with the United States.
During a session in the regime’s parliament (Majles), deputy speaker Ali Nikzad led the parliament in chanting “Death to America”, reinforcing Khamenei’s words. Following Khamenei’s speech, he warned that all officials must clarify their stance: “No one should talk about negotiating with the Great Satan!” The same day, Hossein Safdari, the regime’s deputy intelligence minister, called talks with Washington “the greatest poison”, drawing a parallel to the collapse of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime: “If we don’t resist, they will turn our country into another Syria.”
The attacks on proponents of diplomacy continued with Hamid Rasaee, an influential MP, launching a scathing critique of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and presidential deputy Mohammad Javad Zarif. He accused them of trying to “put Iran’s hand back in America’s grip”, dismissing any diplomatic efforts as a betrayal. Rasae further revealed that the Pezeshkian administration had instructed the Foreign Ministry to secure six-month to one-year visas for Zarif and his wife from the German embassy, despite Berlin shutting down Iran’s consulates and Islamic centers.
The Real Goal of #Iran’s Negotiations: Surviving, Not Settling https://t.co/TaSPUkGx6K
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 29, 2025
Even top clerics joined the offensive. Ahmad Alamolhoda, Khamenei’s representative in Mashhad, denounced those advocating for talks, likening them to traitors: “You think you can do a Gorbachev-style maneuver and sell out the revolution to America? You’re delusional!” Ahmadreza Shahrokhi, Khamenei’s representative in Khorramabad, went after government officials he accused of undermining the system: “Certain individuals, who do not even have a legal mandate for their position, continuously make statements that contradict the government’s slogan of national unity.”
Despite this fiery rhetoric, the regime’s top leadership is signaling openness to diplomacy. While Khamenei and his inner circle publicly denounce negotiations, the regime has dispatched Pezeshkian, Zarif, and Araghchi to reach out to the West, aiming to create confusion among global powers. Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said on February 3: “When the conditions are right, and we are sure that negotiations will secure Iran’s interests, we will take action. However, negotiations are not something we should plead for.”
#Khamenei Sends Zarif to #Davos in Desperate Attempt to Deflect Global Pressurehttps://t.co/OfLG3FKqPh
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 23, 2025
Khamenei’s strategy follows a familiar pattern of calculated duplicity. He projects an uncompromising stance to rally his demoralized forces and suppress internal dissent, all while discreetly maneuvering for sanction relief. Fully aware of his regime’s extreme weakness, he knows he cannot afford meaningful concessions, yet his survival depends on alleviating economic pressure. The clerical dictatorship is drowning in crises—from economic collapse to geopolitical failures in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq—forcing Khamenei to walk a fine line. His contradictory approach seeks to mask desperation with defiance, buying time while hoping that wars in Gaza and Ukraine—or any emerging global crisis—will divert attention, allowing Tehran to stall negotiations and outlast external pressure.
The question remains: will the West fall into the regime’s trap once again, mistaking Tehran’s tactical engagement for genuine diplomacy, and grant it the time it desperately needs?