TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the 2 nations as a result of they’d be aimed toward imposing restrictions on Iranian missile vary and its affect within the area.
Chatting with a gaggle of officers on Saturday, Khamenei didn’t determine the US by title however stated a “bullying authorities” was being persistent in its push for talks.
“Their talks will not be aimed toward fixing issues, it’s for … let’s speak to impose what we wish on the opposite celebration that’s sitting on the other facet of the desk.”
Khamenei’s remarks got here a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to Khamenei searching for a brand new take care of Tehran to restrain its quickly advancing nuclear program and change the nuclear deal he withdrew America from throughout his first time period in workplace.
Khamenei stated U.S. calls for could be each army and associated to the regional affect of Iran.
“They are going to be about protection capabilities, about worldwide capabilities of the nation. (They may urge Iran) to not do (sure) issues, to not meet some sure individuals, to not go to a sure place, to not produce some objects, your missile vary shouldn’t be greater than a sure distance. Is it attainable for anyone to simply accept these?”
Khamenei, who has remaining say on all state issues, stated such talks wouldn’t tackle fixing issues between Iran and the West. Although Khamenei didn’t title any individual or nation, he stated the push for talks creates strain on Iran in public opinion. “It isn’t negotiation. It’s commanding and imposition,” he stated.
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 attainable army motion, saying: “Now we have a scenario with Iran that, one thing’s going to occur very quickly. Very, very quickly.”
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 army confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at close to weapons-grade ranges — one thing solely performed by atomic-armed nations.
Tehran has lengthy maintained its program is for peaceable functions, at the same time as 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.
Iran’s accelerated manufacturing of close to weapons-grade uranium places extra strain on Trump. He’s repeatedly stated he’s open to negotiations with the Islamic Republic whereas additionally more and more concentrating 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.” Nevertheless, extra not too long ago the supreme leader tempered that, saying that negotiations with America “will not be clever, sensible or honorable,” after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
