By Kavita Mistry 
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected direct negotiations with the United States over his country’s nuclear programme on Tuesday (September 23, 2025).
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Mr. Khamenei’s remarks come as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to New York for the UN General Assembly. The comments likely will constrain Pezeshkian and halt any possible outreach to the Americans.
Mr. Khamenei gave the remarks in a speech aired on Iranian state television. They came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with European counterparts seeking to stop the reimposition of nuclear sanctions, likely set to resume on Sunday (September 28, 2025).