Rabat – Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a defiant message today as indirect talks between Tehran and Washington reopened in Geneva under the mediation of Oman, against the backdrop of military pressure and sharp rhetoric from the US.
Ali Khamenei dismissed suggestions that Washington could force political change in Iran.
“The strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up,” he said, according to Iranian media, in a pointed response to recent remarks from US President Donald Trump about the possibility of “regime change.”
The negotiations bring US envoys into indirect contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi with Oman acting as intermediary.
Trump said he would take part “indirectly” and argued that Tehran seeks a deal to avoid further consequences. He referred to previous US B-2 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out alongside Israel last June.
The talks unfold amid visible military signals as the US reinforces its presence in the region.
Iran this week conducted drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments. Gulf states have called for diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
At the core of the dispute lies the scope of any future agreement between the US and Iran.
Washington wants broader discussions that include Iran’s missile program, but Tehran rejects that approach.
Iranian officials insist they will only discuss limits on nuclear activity in exchange for relief from sanctions that have strained the economy and fueled domestic unrest.
The outcome of the Geneva channel now rests on whether the two concerned sides can narrow the gap between pressure and compromise, and whether political messages give way to practical concessions.
