Larijani blames Trump for regional turmoil
TEHRAN: Amid rising regional tensions in West Asia after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, Iran today ruled out talks with the United States.
Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, on Monday categorically rejected claims that Tehran is seeking to negotiate with the United States. He asserted that Iran will have no negotiations with the US.
Condemning US actions in the region, Larijani blamed US President Donald Trump for creating chaos and endangering American troops. He also accused the US of pursuing an “Israel-first” agenda, asserting that Iran did not initiate hostilities.
“With his delusional actions, he turned his self-made ‘America First’ slogan into ‘Israel First’ and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s power-hungry ambitions… and with new fabrications, it is once again imposing the cost of assassinating its own character on American soldiers and families. Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression,” Larijani wrote on social media.
Earlier today, Iran’s Provisional Leadership Council convened its second session, reported the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The meeting was attended by President Masoud Pezekshian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.
The interim council was formed following the assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei under Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, a series of US-Israeli strikes.
Agencies