Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei met with senior Hamas officials in Tehran on Saturday, reaffirming Tehran’s support for the Palestinian group and renewing his criticism of the United States, a day after rejecting the possibility of nuclear talks.
“The issue of Palestine is a fundamental matter for us, and the victory of Palestine is a certainty,” Khamenei said during the meeting.
The Hamas delegation was led by Mohammad Ismail Darwish, Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council, and included Khalil al-Hayya, Deputy Head of Hamas' Political Bureau, and Zaher Jabarin, Hamas’ head in the West Bank. The senior officials celebrated what they described as a 'great victory of the resistance in Gaza' and praised Iran's consistent support.
The meeting took place as the US reinstated its “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran, with President Donald Trump indicating a preference for renewed nuclear talks. However, in a separate address on Friday, Khamenei firmly rejected any prospect of negotiations, stating, "Negotiating with such a government should not be done; it is neither wise, intelligent, nor honorable."
On Saturday, Khamenei also dismissed US pressure on Iran, asserting, "These threats do not affect the mindset of our nation, our officials, or our youth." He reiterated that Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause remains steadfast, describing it as "a resolved matter in the minds of the Iranian people."
Addressing the Hamas leaders, Khamenei said, “You have not only defeated the Zionist regime but, in reality, you have overcome the United States,” framing Gaza’s recent military actions as part of a broader resistance against Western influence.
In addition to rejecting diplomatic overtures, Khamenei dismissed the notion that negotiations could ease Iran’s economic struggles.
Since 2018, when Trump reimposed sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports and banking sector, the country’s economy has sharply deteriorated. This decline has been further compounded by decades of domestic mismanagement, corruption, and a focus on foreign activities over internal welfare.
The Iranian rial has lost 95% of its value, plunging 22-fold, while inflation has hovered around 40% for the past five years. Official estimates suggest that more than one-third of the population now lives below the poverty line.