Iran’s Supreme Leader on Wednesday proudly declared Iran the sole holdout in resisting the demands of the world's bullies, days after US President Trump said Tehran must rule out nuclear weapons or face military action.
"Today, the world's bullies say everyone must obey us and must put our interests ahead of their own, but Iran is the only country that has categorically rejected this." Khamenei said in a speech to student supporters.
As Khamenei delivered his speech, an Emirati diplomat arrived in Tehran carrying a direct letter from Trump to Khamenei urging talks. His remarks appeared to again reject Trump's overtures for a deal.
President Trump revealed on Friday that he had sent a letter to Khamenei offering negotiations while warning of military action if talks failed.
“There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily or through a deal. I would prefer to make a deal," Trump told Fox Business Network.
Trump later added that the standoff with Iran had reached a critical stage: “We are at final moments with Iran."
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon but the UN's nuclear watchdog last week pointed to a sharp rise in Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Khamenei, Iran's veteran theocrat and champion of defying the West and Israel, has repeatedly ruled out talks with the United States since Trump took office.
Iran's Supreme Leader insisted on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic had not been weakened by the deaths and killings of key political and military figures in recent years.
"This year, in some matters, we are stronger than last year, and in some matters, if we are not stronger, we are not weaker either," Ali Khamenei said during a Ramadan meeting with student supporters.
Khamenei referred to the deaths of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, along with senior Hamas and Hezbollah militant leaders killed by Israel including Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Deif, Hassan Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine and Yahya Sinwar.
"The loss of distinguished individuals does not mean retreat, regression or weakness," he added.