TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, has declared that Iran will only consider the United States’ request for cooperation if Washington fundamentally alters its policy in the Middle East by meeting three non-negotiable conditions.
Speaking to a gathering of school and university students in Tehran on Monday, on the occasion of the National Day of Fighting against Global Arrogance, the Leader stated that the clash between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. is “fundamental” and rooted in a clash of interests.
Ayatollah Khamenei outlined the terms under which any American request for cooperation—which he noted would be considered only in “later times” and not in the near future—could be contemplated:
Cessation of Support for the Zionist Regime: The United States must “completely end its support for the Zionist regime.”
Withdrawal of Military Bases: The U.S. must “withdraw all its military bases from the region.”
End to Regional Interference: The U.S. must “refrain from interfering in regional affairs.”
The Supreme Leader traced the hostility back to the 1953 coup, which overthrew the national government, arguing that the conflict with Washington is not a recent political dispute but an “inherent incompatibility.”
He dismissed claims that the popular anti-U.S. slogan “Death to America” was the cause of U.S. hostility, asserting it was a distortion of history. Instead, he argued that the inherent nature of the U.S. demands complete submission, which Iran’s independent Islamic Revolution rejects.
“The inherently arrogant nature of the US accepts nothing but submission,” he stated. “Every US president desired this, though some did not state it openly; the current president has expressed it explicitly, revealing the US’s true nature.”
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the only path forward for Iran to secure its interests and protect itself from its adversaries is to become strong through managerial, scientific, and military capability, urging the government to prioritize strengthening these areas.
He also provided a historical context for the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, describing the event as a revelation of the U.S. government’s true identity as a center of conspiracy against the Revolution.