Erdogan Meets Khamenei

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran, Leadership House, 29 January 2014. (Photo: @Khamenei_irFa/Twitter)

Iran’s New Initiative to Reach Out to Washington - Report

Reuters reported today that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has approved a request by the country’s foreign minister to reach out to Washington and enter into “broad discussions with the United States.” Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister, reportedly made his request to start the dialogue with the U.S. in a three-page hand-written letter sent to Khamenei five months ago, two sources who have read the letter told Reuters. The supreme leader wrote back to Salehi and the cabinet that although he was not optimistic about the prospect, but would not oppose them if they pursued the initiative.

“Salehi endangered his career - and even his security,” said a source who knows Salehi and saw the letter. “But he said this letter will be registered in history.” (Reuters, 12 June)

Salehi’s bold move was opposed by President Ahmadinejad, the sources tell Reuters.

It is not clear if the initiative by Salehi has led to any serious negotiations with the U.S.

File photo: Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (IRNA)

Latest Photo of Gen. Shateri

An undated photo of Quds Force Brig. Gen. Hassan Shateri published by mashreghnews.ir, showing the general who was killed during an Israeli attack in Syria kissing the hand of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, is shown next to Khamenie, along with other IRGC general officers saluting the kiss!

The bottom photo shows IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, front row in uniform, and Quds Force Commander Major General Qasem Soleimani, behind Jafari in black civilian suit, at the funeral of the late Hassan Shateri. 

Photo credit: 
Top: Nouri/ABNA/AhlulBayt/mashreghnews.ir. 
Bottom: Dehghani/Fars News Agency  

Khamenei Rejects U.S. Offer for Direct Talks

‘I'm not a diplomat, I'm a revolutionary and I speak candidly’ - Khamenei

  

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today rejected an offer of direct talks made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the Munich Security Conference. Khamenei said the Americans are pointing their guns at Iran and yet offer direct talks. He also lashed out at Iranian officials who would agree to direct talks with the U.S. 

Khamenei made the comments during a speech to the commanders and personnel of Iranian air force. Due to the importance of the speech, we have translated all its parts relevant to Iran-U.S. relations.

“Don’t say ball is in Iran’s court - the ball is in your (American) court; because you need to answer this question: Is negotiation with you, while you maintain pressures and threats, meaningful? 

“Of course we feel their (American) needs for negotiations; their policies in the Middle East have faced defeat. They need to show a winning hand to compensate for their defeat.

“The (Americans) want to show the world that they have good intentions. But no one feels that… You continue your ‘crippling’ sanctions to paralyze the nation. Does this show good faith or bad faith?

“Talks for sake of talks, negotiations for tactical purposes, and proposals to hold talks to pose as a superpower are only cunning moves.

“I am not a diplomat. I am a revolutionary. I speak in simple, candid and firm manner. The offer for direct talks is meaningful only if it’s done in good faith. They (Americans) are pointing their guns at Iranian nation and say: ’Talk or we’ll shoot.’ But you need to know that talks and pressure and threats are not compatible and our nation will not be intimidated.

“During a period after the revolution, some (Iranian) officials with optimism trusted the Americans, but they branded Iran ‘axis of evil’ and greatly affronted the Iranian nation.

“Talks and pressure are two separate ways. The Iranian nation will not accept to hold talks with those who resort to pressure and threats. 

“If some people want to reestablish the American rule in Iran, and relinquish our national independence and abandon the country’s developments, the nation will rise up to face them. Even if I act against this popular will, people will protest it.”

To read the report on Khamenei’s speech by Mehr News Agency (in Farsi), please click here.

Note: Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, responding to Biden’s offer at Munich Security Conference, had said earlier this week that Iran would give “positive consideration” to the possibility of direct talks with the U.S.

Photo credit: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a meeting with the commanders and personnel of Iran’s air force. Tehran, 9 February 2013. (Mehr News Agency)