Contrary to statements by US President Donald Trump that he "gets along well" with Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Tehran categorically denies the possibility of a personal meeting between them. This was reported by Mohsen Rezaei, military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, in an interview with CNN, as cited by RBC-Ukraine.
Negotiations Have Hit a Dead End
Rezaei stated that the dialogue between Iran and the US has effectively stalled. According to him, it was Donald Trump who brought the negotiations to a dead end, and now Washington needs to find a way out of the situation. At the same time, Khamenei's advisor did not comment on the role of the Supreme Leader himself in making key decisions, but unequivocally rejected the prospect of a meeting with the White House chief.
"It will not happen," Rezaei emphasized. "Right now we are at the first stage of negotiations, and Mr. Trump has brought them to a dead end. It will not happen".
Frozen Assets as the Cause of the Crisis
Earlier, Mohsen Rezaei explained that negotiations had stalled due to $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. These funds are located in several countries, and Washington has the ability to influence their return to the Islamic Republic. However, this has not happened yet, and tensions remain.
Threat of Conflict Expansion
The military advisor to Khamenei also warned that if the US resumes military action, Tehran is ready to "drag the war" beyond the Persian Gulf. This refers to expanding operations from the Strait of Hormuz to the Indian Ocean, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, Iran is demonstrating its readiness for escalation in the event of aggression by the US.
This week, Donald Trump stated that it would be an "honor" for him to meet with Mojtaba Khamenei, but Tehran currently sees no grounds for such a step. The situation remains tense, and the prospects for dialogue are in question.