ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that missiles not negotiations would ensure Iran’s future, as the US and Western allies were planning to meet to condemn Iran for recently testing new ballistic missiles.
“Those who say that the future lies in dialogue not missiles are either ignorant or traitors,” Khamenei said in comments reported by Iranian media.
“These are times of both missiles and negotiations,” he said.
Khamenei, a hardliner who has the last word on all Iranian affairs, had backed the negotiations with global powers that led to the lifting of international sanctions this year, in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.
But he has been critical of the deal, which had the backing of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and other moderates, because of the slow pace of the lifting of sanctions, and remaining problems such as Iranian banks having difficulty integrating into the global banking system.
The United States, France, Britain and Germany – the major backers of the nuclear deal that led to the lifting of sanctions against Iran, have called for a UN Security Council meeting to respond to Tehran’s recent ballistic missile tests, which they say defy a UN resolution.
“If the Islamic establishment seeks technology and negotiations but does not have defensive power, it will have to back down in the face of any petty country that threatens,” Khamenei said.
“Negotiations should be carried out in such a way that we do not get cheated,” he added. “That we negotiate, put things on paper, but sanctions don’t get removed, and trade doesn’t get going is a sign that something is wrong.”
“Those who say that the future lies in dialogue not missiles are either ignorant or traitors,” Khamenei said in comments reported by Iranian media.
“These are times of both missiles and negotiations,” he said.
Khamenei, a hardliner who has the last word on all Iranian affairs, had backed the negotiations with global powers that led to the lifting of international sanctions this year, in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.
But he has been critical of the deal, which had the backing of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and other moderates, because of the slow pace of the lifting of sanctions, and remaining problems such as Iranian banks having difficulty integrating into the global banking system.
The United States, France, Britain and Germany – the major backers of the nuclear deal that led to the lifting of sanctions against Iran, have called for a UN Security Council meeting to respond to Tehran’s recent ballistic missile tests, which they say defy a UN resolution.
“If the Islamic establishment seeks technology and negotiations but does not have defensive power, it will have to back down in the face of any petty country that threatens,” Khamenei said.
“Negotiations should be carried out in such a way that we do not get cheated,” he added. “That we negotiate, put things on paper, but sanctions don’t get removed, and trade doesn’t get going is a sign that something is wrong.”
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