Leader’s Advisor Warns Trump: Using Force Against Iran “Simply Not Workable”

A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has delivered a stern message to Washington, cautioning that the Trump administration’s reliance on coercive measures would never compel Iran to alter its path.

“They have tried force, and they now understand it is not acceptable and not workable,” Kamal Kharrazi said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

Kharrazi highlighted Washington’s decades-long history of economic and military pressure against Iran, including Trump-era initiatives, stressing that these tactics have failed to force the Islamic Republic to abandon its course. He also pointed to the US-Israel collaboration in June, aimed at Iran’s nuclear facilities, which fell short of dismantling the country’s nuclear and defensive infrastructure.

Despite tensions, the advisor emphasized that Iran remains fully prepared for any confrontation but is also open to diplomacy, provided negotiations occur on the basis of mutual respect, equal footing, and pre-agreed terms, conditions he said the US has yet to meet. “We have always been ready for diplomatic talks,” he stated. “But President Trump does not believe in diplomatic engagement and prefers force to achieve his objectives.”

Kharrazi urged Washington to take “a positive approach” and abandon coercive tactics, noting that any constructive step would be reciprocated by Tehran.

On nuclear matters, the advisor reiterated that Iran’s peaceful nuclear energy program is fully indigenous and impervious to military action. “Our nuclear program is embedded in the skills and knowledge of our scientists and engineers,” he said, adding that the country would continue enrichment for power reactors and medical use. He also reaffirmed Ayatollah Khamenei’s fatwa against nuclear weapons, describing it as immutable.

Regarding Iran’s defensive capabilities, Kharrazi underscored that the ballistic missile program is a non-negotiable element of national security. “Whatever we can do in producing our missiles, we will not neglect. This is how we defend ourselves.”

He also reaffirmed Iran’s support for Palestinian self-determination, stating the Islamic Republic would honor any collective decision made by the Palestinian people, while refusing to recognize Israel, which he described as “an entity built on occupation.”