TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the 2 international locations as a result of they might be geared toward imposing restrictions on Iranian missile vary and its affect within the area.
Talking to a gaggle of officers on Saturday, Khamenei didn’t establish the USA by identify however mentioned 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 get together that’s sitting on the alternative aspect of the desk.”
Khamenei’s remarks got here a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to Khamenei looking for a brand new take care of Tehran to restrain its quickly advancing nuclear program and substitute the nuclear deal he withdrew America from throughout his first time period in workplace.
Khamenei mentioned 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 gadgets, your missile vary shouldn’t be greater than a sure distance. Is it attainable for anyone to just accept these?”
Khamenei, who has closing say on all state issues, mentioned such talks wouldn’t handle fixing issues between Iran and the West. Although Khamenei didn’t identify any individual or nation, he mentioned the push for talks creates stress on Iran in public opinion. “It isn’t 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 instantly. However he made a veiled reference to attainable army motion, saying: “We have now a scenario with Iran that, one thing’s going to occur very quickly. Very, very quickly.”
His overture comes as each Israel and the USA 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 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.
Iran’s accelerated manufacturing of close to weapons-grade uranium places extra stress on Trump. He’s repeatedly mentioned 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 participating with the “enemy.” Nevertheless, extra lately the supreme leader tempered that, saying that negotiations with America “should not clever, smart or honorable,” after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
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