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 might be geared toward imposing restrictions on Iranian missile vary and its affect within the area.
Talking to a bunch of officers on Saturday, Khamenei didn’t determine america by identify however stated a “bullying authorities” was being persistent in its push for talks.
“Their talks should not geared toward fixing issues, it’s for … let’s discuss to impose what we would like on the opposite occasion 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 searching for a brand new take care of 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 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’ll urge Iran) to not do (sure) issues, to not meet some sure folks, 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 doable for anyone to simply accept these?”
Khamenei, who has last say on all state issues, stated such talks wouldn’t handle fixing issues between Iran and the West. Although Khamenei didn’t identify 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 instantly. However he made a veiled reference to doable army motion, saying: “We have now a scenario with Iran that, one thing’s going to occur very quickly. Very, very quickly.”
Anna Moneymaker by way of Getty Photographs
His overture comes as each Israel and america have warned they are going to 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 carried out 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.
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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 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.” Nevertheless, extra lately the supreme leader tempered that, saying that negotiations with America “should not clever, sensible or honorable,” after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
