Iran's supreme leader rejects direct talks with US over nuclear program as sanctions deadline nears

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday rejected direct negotiations with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program, a stance that could constrain any outreach by President Masoud Pezeshkian as he travels to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Khamenei's remarks were broadcast on state television as senior diplomats from Germany, the United Kingdom and France pressed ahead with last-minute talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering to explore options before sanctions are reimposed. The discussions also involved Kaja Kallas, described by the participants as the European Union's foreign policy chief, underscoring the European push to avert a renewed standoff over Tehran's nuclear activities.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the chances of reaching a diplomatic solution before the snapback of sanctions on Sunday were extremely slim. He for his part argued that Iran had not complied with its obligations under the Vienna Nuclear Agreement, signaling that the E3 — Germany, Britain and France — would implement the so-called snapback mechanism to reinstate international sanctions at the end of the week. Wadephul stressed, however, that the three European powers would continue to negotiate with Iran even after sanctions reappear.

Araghchi also met Monday with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in New York. The meeting took place amid a broader effort to resume cooperation and inspections at Iran's nuclear facilities, a process that had stalled in recent months. Earlier this month, the U.N. watchdog and Iran signed an Egypt-mediated agreement aimed at relaunching cooperation, including discussions on how to resume inspections of Iranian sites.

In July, Iran's parliament approved a law suspending all cooperation with the IAEA, a move that raised questions about the potential for renewed access and verification. Western diplomats say the IAEA is central to confidence-building measures that would accompany any potential revival of diplomacy. The current push to reengage follows broader regional tensions and a broader wariness about Tehran's nuclear program, which Iran insists is peaceful, while Western nations and the IAEA contend Tehran had an active program prior to 2003.

The snapback mechanism is designed to reinstate a broad set of international sanctions if diplomacy fails to yield a deal before the deadline. If sanctions resume on Sept. 28, Iran could face frozen assets abroad, halted arms contracts, and penalties that would complicate its ballistic-missile development and other sectors of the economy. European negotiators say they are prepared to extend the deadline if Iran agrees to direct talks with the United States, allows U.N. inspectors access to its program, and accounts for the volume of enriched uranium in its stockpiles — more than 400 kilograms, according to the IAEA — but they caution that time is running short.

The evolving diplomacy unfolds as Pezeshkian’s presence in New York places Tehran in the spotlight of the U.N. General Assembly, a venue that historically has provided a stage for direct and indirect diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear dossier. While Tehran seeks to avoid direct talks with Washington, officials say the domestic political calculus, including parliamentary actions and domestic law, will continue to shape the country’s negotiating posture in the coming days. The international community watches for any signs of flexibility that could avert a fresh round of sanctions, preserve limited inspections, and maintain a pathway for renewed negotiations, even if the path remains narrow and contentious.

As the clock ticks toward Sept. 28, international observers emphasize that any tangible breakthrough will likely require a combination of concessions and verifiable steps, including access for inspectors, compliance with binding restrictions on enrichment activity, and a credible plan for future political-diplomatic engagement. In the meantime, Khamenei's reiterated stance against direct U.S. talks reinforces a hard line that could limit the scope of Pezeshkian's outreach and complicate broader diplomatic efforts at the U.N. gathering.