Senior Iranian Cleric Blasts Trump: "He Doesn't Want Negotiations - He Wants Surrender"
With both sides publicly hardening their rhetoric and diplomats privately describing the talks as nearly frozen, the prospects for an imminent US-Iran nuclear agreement appear dimmer today than they did just 72 hours ago.
As US-Iran nuclear talks stall dramatically, one of Tehran's most prominent religious figures launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump, accusing him of using the language of diplomacy to mask a campaign of national humiliation.
Senior Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami delivered the pointed remarks Wednesday during prayers held in Tehran to mark the Feast of Sacrifice, saying plainly: "Trump talks endlessly about negotiations with Iran - but the truth is, he doesn't really want negotiations. He wants surrender."
Khatami didn't stop there. "The United States wants to humiliate Iran," he declared, "but it will take that wish to the grave. It will never happen."
Talks in Deep Freeze
The fiery sermon comes as the diplomatic mood between Washington and Tehran has shifted sharply. Despite a burst of intense, high-level activity over the recent weekend that appeared to bring the two sides closer to a framework agreement, negotiations have since ground to a near-standstill.
Senior officials from both negotiating teams, along with White House insiders, are now describing a significant slowdown in the pace of exchanges, with one diplomatic source characterizing the current rhythm as "almost glacial" compared to the intensive back-and-forth of just days ago.
Where the Deadlock Lies
According to those same diplomatic sources, Iranian negotiators have dug into their positions and are refusing to engage on key sticking points. The areas of contention include:
White House-aligned sources place the blame squarely on Tehran, saying the Iranian side is stonewalling rather than negotiating in good faith.
High Stakes, Low Momentum
The contrast between last weekend's optimism and this week's freeze has rattled observers on both sides. What appeared to be a diplomatic breakthrough now looks increasingly fragile, with the window for a near-term deal narrowing by the day.
Khatami's public broadside, delivered on a major religious occasion before a large audience, signals that hardline voices in Tehran are gaining ground in the internal Iranian debate over whether to strike any deal at all.
For the Trump administration, which has staked significant political capital on securing a new Iran agreement, the combination of a stalled table and an emboldened opposition in Tehran presents a mounting challenge.