Iran Rejects U.S. Talks as Ali Larijani Slams Trump, Confirms Khamenei Killed in Israeli Strike

|By Adejumo Adekunle

Iran’s top national security official, Ali Larijani, has firmly ruled out any renewed negotiations with the United States, dismissing reports that Tehran sought backchannel talks with Washington.

Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the declaration on X, directly countering media claims that Iran had approached the U.S. through intermediaries to restart diplomatic discussions.

In a strongly worded post, Larijani accused U.S. President Donald Trump of destabilising the Middle East. He alleged that Trump “caused chaos in the region with false hopes” and is now worried about rising American casualties. According to Larijani, Trump has shifted from his campaign slogan of “America First” to what he described as “Israel First,” claiming the U.S. leader is prepared to deploy American troops to advance Israeli interests.

Larijani, a powerful figure in Iran’s political and security structure and a former senior adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insisted that Iranian forces “did not start the invasion,” rejecting accusations of aggression.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following confirmation that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed after his residence was struck on Saturday. Khamenei reportedly died alongside his daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law in the attack.

The Israeli military also confirmed the deaths of Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Khamenei, and General Mohammad Pakpour, head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, during the strikes.

The latest developments mark a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel, further complicating any prospects for diplomatic engagement in the region.