Delivering this week’s Friday prayer sermon in Tehran, Ayatollah Khatami referred to the course of negotiations and the conduct of the US, noting that among world leaders there is no one as prone to falsehood as US President Donald Trump.

The cleric stated that Trump frequently posts numerous messages and has made thousands of false statements, arguing that such a person must be approached with complete pessimism.

He also praised the performance of Iranian negotiators in the recent Pakistani-mediated talks in Islamabad, saying they left the negotiating table as soon as they observed excessive demands from the United States. The cleric added that Washington seeks to achieve at the negotiating table what it failed to gain on the battlefield.

Ayatollah Khatami reiterated that no one would have the courage to attack Iran, adding that even if an attack were to occur, it would not lead anywhere, and stressing that the Islamic Revolution will endure.

Referring to remarks by late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, he said that one should remain distrustful even of the enemy’s smiles, particularly in the case of figures like Trump, whom he described as the embodiment of falsehood.

The cleric concluded by stating that the Iranian people would not accept negotiations conducted under humiliation.

On February 28, following the assassination of late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several military commanders, the US and Israel initiated a sweeping military campaign against Iran. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces executed a series of counterattacks over a span of 40 days, targeting American and Israeli military installations in the region and demonstrating their combat capabilities. Contrary to the expectations of a swift victory, the Iranian retaliations caused considerable damage to US and Israeli assets, prolonging the conflict and escalating tensions in the region.

In an attempt to ease hostilities, a two-week ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan on April 8, allowing for mediated negotiations to take place in Islamabad. Iran presented a ten-point plan during these discussions, which called for the withdrawal of US troops, the lifting of sanctions, and control over the key Strait of Hormuz. Despite engaging in 21 hours of intense talks with US negotiators in Pakistan, the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran without reaching an agreement, citing a lack of trust and the US’ political flip-flop.