Iran Rejects US Nuclear Talks

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, publicly rejected negotiations with the United States, stating they are 'not intelligent, wise or honorable,' despite earlier signals from Tehran that it was open to dialogue. This stance contradicts reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian's recent promises to engage with the West. The remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion of nuclear talks with Iran, even as he signed an executive order to reimpose 'maximum pressure' sanctions. Khamenei cited Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the previous nuclear deal as a reason for distrust. The Iran — Iranian rial plummeted to a record low after Khamenei's comments. Additionally, the U.S. Department_of_the_Treasury levied sanctions against firms trading Iranian crude oil to China, which Iran's Foreign Ministry criticized as unjustified. Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade levels, raising international concerns.