Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader who has final say on the nuclear program, spoke unusually directly about the nuclear negotiations and the inspections of nuclear sites May 20 during a speech at the Imam Hossein military academy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “Just as I’ve said, no inspections of any military centers or talks with nuclear scientists and other sensitive fields will be permitted,” Khamenei said. “I will not give permission for foreigners to come and speak and interrogate scientists,” adding, “The brazen and insolent enemy expects us to allow them to talk to our scientists and researchers about our substantial domestic and national progress, but absolutely no such a permission will be given.”
In a rare direct message to all sides in the nuclear negotiations, Khamenei said, “The enemies of the Islamic Republic and all those who are waiting for the decision of the system on this issue should [now] understand clearly.