Tehran’s Friday prayer leader, Ahmad Khatami, on June 12 said the United States understood neither the language of negotiation nor that of a ceasefire, asserting that Washington responded only to force.

His comments come as Donald Trump announced on June 11 that the two countries had reached an agreement, with an expected signing ceremony in Geneva likely over the weekend, cancelling further attacks on the Islamic Republic. 

“This enemy understands neither the language of negotiation nor the language of a ceasefire, but only the language of force,” Khatami told worshippers, adding that Iran’s armed forces had “made them understand this well, and will make them understand it again.”

Framing the recent confrontation as a clash between “the front of faith and the front of unbelief,” the cleric said the Islamic Republic would meet “any action or aggression with a firm and decisive response.”

He characterised the US and Israel as coordinated adversaries with shared aims, saying world public opinion was well aware of the links between Washington and the “Zionist regime.”

Khatami took direct aim at US President Donald Trump, saying the American leader had claimed Iranians regarded Americans as fools. The cleric retorted that Iranians had formed their own judgement of Trump’s conduct, arguing that his “contradictory statements and actions” pointed to instability in his decision-making.

Addressing the country’s negotiators, Khatami said he had no knowledge of the behind-the-scenes details of recent developments and had not enquired, but offered a broad message: “The language of this nation is the language of dignity and resilience.” He said Iran stood against “any imposition and humiliation” and insisted on preserving its dignity and independence.

The sermon dwelt on what Khatami described as the lessons of the past week, including Iran’s move to back Hezbollah and what he called the enemy’s retreat. He said the episode showed that statements by Iranian military officials were “not mere slogans” but commitments acted upon in the field, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace commander’s assertion that a pledged response had been delivered.

Khatami also pointed to what he termed the unity of the “axis of resistance,” citing the roles of Yemen’s Ansarallah, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi as evidence of cohesion among allied groups in the region.

He told worshippers that Iran had “revolted in order not to surrender, and by God’s grace will not surrender,” describing a culture of resistance as enduring within the nation. The cleric tied the message to the start of the Islamic month of Muharram on June 16, which he said carried particular significance this year given regional tensions.

In Trump's June 11 announcement, he said discussions and final points had been approved by all parties, listing the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt, according to the post. He said a naval blockade would remain in force until the arrangement was finalised, with the time and place of a signing to be announced.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its forces stood ready to deliver an immediate and punishing response to any miscalculation by its adversaries, Tabnak reported. The statement, which did not reference any negotiations, described a missile and drone operation it termed "True Promise 3" as having shifted regional security balances in Iran's favour, and named senior commanders it said had been killed in the fighting.