Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that tensions with the United States were «unsolvable,» vowing that Tehran would never yield to pressure from Washington over its nuclear program, according to state media, as reported by Reuters.
Khamenei’s remarks came during a mourning ceremony in Tehran for military commanders and scientists killed in Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June 2025. The conflict also led to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, after which Tehran suspended direct talks with Washington.
On Friday, August 22, Iran and European powers — France, Britain and Germany — agreed to resume discussions aimed at reviving broader negotiations on curbing Tehran’s nuclear enrichment. However, Khamenei dismissed calls for direct talks with the U.S., saying:
«They want Iran to be obedient to America. The Iranian nation will stand with all its power against such erroneous expectations.»
European governments have warned they could trigger the UN «snapback» sanctions mechanism if Iran refuses to return to compliance. While Western states accuse Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons, Iran maintains that its program is strictly for civilian nuclear power.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced the appointment of new transport attaches in neighbouring and regional countries to improve trade links and provide better services for Afghan citizens.
