Iran’s supreme leader said the country will continue its nuclear program despite renewed pressure from Washington, in his first public remarks since President Donald Trump restored US sanctions on Tehran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments signal that the Islamic Republic is once again taking a defiant line in the face of intensified US economic pressure. The statement comes as sanctions are reimposed and tensions between the two countries remain high.

The nuclear file remains one of the most contentious issues in Iran’s standoff with the West, with critics warning that the government’s policy choices deepen isolation and economic strain for ordinary Iranians already burdened by years of mismanagement, inflation, and restrictions.

The latest remarks suggest no immediate shift in Tehran’s position, keeping alive concerns that the dispute could further complicate diplomatic efforts and intensify pressure on civilians caught in the middle of the confrontation.