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In a defiant and unusually aggressive speech marking the anniversary of Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei publicly rejected a recent U.S.-mediated nuclear proposal — not as a sign of strategic confidence, but rather as a reflection of mounting internal fear. His hoarse and strained voice, widely broadcast across the nation, mirrored the fragility of a regime now more concerned with internal dissent than with external threats.
The nuclear proposal, reportedly transmitted through Oman, would have required Tehran to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for partial sanctions relief. Khamenei dismissed the offer outright, calling it “100 percent against the principle of ‘we can’.” He linked any form of compromise to national humiliation, saying: “National independence means a country does not wait for a green or red light from the U.S. or others. One pillar of independence is the belief that ‘we can’.”
While both U.S. and Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened military strikes to contain Iran’s nuclear progress — and some voices within the Iranian regime have echoed the seriousness of such threats — Khamenei dismissed them outright. His message was clear: he does not believe airstrikes will bring down his regime. What he truly fears is the erosion of the regime’s internal strength — a weakened security apparatus and a potential domestic uprising triggered by perceived submission to foreign demands.
Khamenei's Hardline Stance on Nuclear Program Exposes Deepening Instability in #Iran’s Regimehttps://t.co/WemgYWvQiy
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 20, 2025
He stated: “Those in power— the Zionists and the Americans — should know that they can’t do a damn thing about this. And before any advice or warnings, the first thing we told the Americans regarding the nuclear issue was: who are you to say whether Iran can enrich uranium or not? It’s none of your business.”
The Supreme Leader warned against officials who advocate for “rationality” as a cover for surrender. “Sometimes we hear calls for rationality, but what they really mean is that we should bow to America,” he said. “That is not rationality. Rationality is what Imam Khomeini practiced — the kind that made the Iranian people respected in the eyes of the world.”
Khamenei emphasized that uranium enrichment is not just a technical matter, but a symbol of national sovereignty. “Enrichment is the key,” he declared. “If we have a hundred nuclear power plants but no enrichment, it’s worthless.”
For 2 decades, many analysts and officials in the West leaned towards the belief that the regime in #Iran will hold itself to "#Khamenei's fatwa" about not developing nuclear weapons.
Watch our latest #video and "be the judge" on how trustworthy Tehran is: pic.twitter.com/WI0DvIzsfQ— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 13, 2022
He also made bold claims about Iran’s progress: “Thanks to the intelligence of our youth and the efforts of our scientists, Iran now possesses the full nuclear fuel cycle — from the mine to the reactor. Only a few countries in the world can say that.”
Referring to what he termed “the thousands of scientists and students” trained in nuclear research over the past two decades, Khamenei issued a warning: “Are we supposed to abandon them and let them down just because of the rude demands of the Americans? This is what they want — to break our spirit. But they cannot.”
#Khamenei Warns of Internal Doubt as Nuclear Talks and Crises Shake #Iran’s Ruling Systemhttps://t.co/ozjsJI9KBh
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 25, 2025
Beyond addressing Western threats, Khamenei claimed that even in Europe and the U.S., there is a “visible movement of disillusionment with Western values,” suggesting the tide of history favors Iran’s ideological model. This attempt to project confidence and ideological supremacy appeared calibrated to reassure Tehran’s allies abroad and to consolidate discipline at home. Iranian state media widely amplified this aggressive posture, repeatedly quoting Khamenei’s charge that “America is complicit in the Zionist regime crimes and must be expelled from the region.”
The speech made clear that Khamenei sees domestic threats as more vital than avoiding confrontation with the West. The fear that compromise could weaken the resolve of the security forces, demoralize the ruling elite, and embolden a restless public weighs more heavily on him than any foreign military threat.