TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the 2 nations as a result of they’d be geared toward imposing restrictions on Iranian missile vary and its affect within the area.
Chatting with a bunch of officers on Saturday, Khamenei didn’t determine the US by title however mentioned a “bullying authorities” was being persistent in its push for talks.
“Their talks aren’t geared toward fixing issues, it’s for … let’s discuss to impose what we would like on the opposite social gathering that’s sitting on the alternative facet of the desk.”
Khamenei’s remarks got here a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to Khamenei in search of a brand new cope with Tehran to restrain its quickly advancing nuclear program and exchange the nuclear deal he withdrew America from throughout his first time period in workplace.
Khamenei mentioned U.S. calls for could be each navy and associated to the regional affect of Iran.
“They are going to be about protection capabilities, about worldwide capabilities of the nation. (They are going to urge Iran) to not do (sure) issues, to not meet some sure individuals, to not go to a sure place, to not produce some gadgets, your missile vary shouldn’t be greater than a sure distance. Is it potential for anyone to simply accept these?”
Khamenei, who has last say on all state issues, mentioned such talks wouldn’t tackle fixing issues between Iran and the West. Although Khamenei didn’t title any individual or nation, he mentioned the push for talks creates strain on Iran in public opinion. “It’s not negotiation. It’s commanding and imposition,” he mentioned.
Trump in feedback to reporters within the Oval Workplace on Friday didn’t point out the letter straight. However he made a veiled reference to potential navy motion, saying: “We’ve a state of affairs with Iran that, one thing’s going to occur very quickly. Very, very quickly.”
Anna Moneymaker by way of Getty Pictures
His overture comes as each Israel and the US have warned they may by no means let Iran purchase a nuclear weapon, resulting in fears of a navy confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at close to weapons-grade ranges — one thing solely completed by atomic-armed nations.
Tehran has lengthy maintained its program is for peaceable functions, whilst its officers more and more threaten to pursue the bomb as tensions are excessive with the U.S. over its sanctions and with Israel as a shaky ceasefire holds in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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Iran’s accelerated manufacturing of close to weapons-grade uranium places extra strain on Trump. He’s repeatedly mentioned he’s open to negotiations with the Islamic Republic whereas additionally more and more focusing on Iran’s oil gross sales with sanctions as a part of his reimposed “maximum pressure” policy.
Late in August, Khamenei in a speech opened the door to possible talks with the U.S., saying there’s “no hurt” in partaking with the “enemy.” Nonetheless, extra just lately the supreme leader tempered that, saying that negotiations with America “aren’t clever, clever or honorable,” after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
