Khamenei’s shift on talks with Trump draws derision

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s decision to drop his longstanding opposition to talks with the United States drew criticism from some Iranians that the veteran leader capitulated under pressure in order to retain power.

The reaction came after Iran International invited public responses to the reversal in Khamenei’s stance, asking why he would now consider negotiations he previously called “unwise, undignified, and dishonorable.”

One respondent, in a video message to Iran International, referenced the leader’s earlier rhetoric: “You said negotiating with America is dishonorable. Now do you realize you’re without honor?”

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed the start of high-level, direct talks with Iran, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We’re dealing with them directly and maybe a deal is going to be made,” Trump said, warning that if not, “Iran is going to be in great danger”.

Tehran is set to hold negotiations with Washington in Oman on Saturday.

In the face of criticism from inside and outside government, Iranian officials continued to frame the diplomatic channel as indirect. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV, “What America is doing is dictating. We believe indirect talks are more effective”.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, the administration’s spokesperson, also said the negotiations, while advanced and significant, remain indirect for now. “We have to begin the process to see where it leads, but the format remains non-direct,” she added.

Still, the public remains unconvinced by the government’s attempts to save face. Several respondents accused Khamenei of misleading the population over years of opposition to the US, only to retreat under duress.

“They lied about indirect negotiations for so long,” one person said in a voice message. “Now they should admit they were wrong.”

Others tied the capitulation to a fear of system collapse in the wake of the Women, Life, Freedom movement which has seen a mass movement against the government since 2022.

“Khamenei agreed to talk because he fears ending up like Gaddafi or Saddam,” another one said.

One man argued the stakes had now grown too high, just last month, Trump threatening to bomb Iran if a new deal was not agreed upon within two months. “Khamenei has no choice but to sit at the table. He knows if war breaks out, the same youth he wants to send to fight won’t aim at America or Israel—they’ll aim at him," he said.

Criticism also targeted the perceived hypocrisy of the leadership. “You used to accuse protesters of collaborating with hostile governments,” said one voice message addressed to Khamenei. “Now you’re negotiating with the very government you called hostile.”

Another message addressed Khamenei directly: “You’re a coward ruining the lives of over 80 million people. Now that you've suffered a defeat and backed down, even your own followers can see how cowardly you are.”

A separate voice message even accused the leader of backpedaling so much that he risked a total turnaround of decades of anti-US and anti-Israel animosity.

“Khamenei redefines words. Even ‘honor’ means something different to him,” the speaker said, before adding, “Soon he’ll be on his way to kiss Netanyahu’s hands.”

An overwhelming sense of "humiliation" has dominated the messages received by Iran International.

“This is humiliation. Khamenei once vowed neither war nor negotiation. Now there’s negotiation, no deal, and he still has to go," another Iranian said.