TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the 2 international locations as a result of they’d be geared toward imposing restrictions on Iranian missile vary and its affect within the area.
Chatting with a gaggle of officers on Saturday, Khamenei didn’t establish the USA by title however stated a “bullying government” was being persistent in its push for talks.
“Their talks are not aimed at solving problems, it is for … let’s talk to impose what we want on the other party that is sitting on the opposite side of the table.”
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 exchange the nuclear deal he withdrew America from throughout his first time period in workplace.
Khamenei stated U.S. calls for can be each army and associated to the regional affect of Iran.
“They will be about defense capabilities, about international capabilities of the country. (They will urge Iran) not to do (certain) things, not to meet some certain people, not to go to a certain place, not to produce some items, your missile range should not be more than a certain distance. Is it possible for anybody to accept these?”
Khamenei, who has last 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 is not negotiation. It is 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 a situation with Iran that, something’s going to happen very soon. Very, very soon.”
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His overture comes as each Israel and the USA 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 carried out 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 conflict in opposition to Hamas within 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 concentrating on Iran’s oil gross sales with sanctions as a part of his reimposed “maximum pressure” coverage.
Late in August, Khamenei in a speech opened the door to doable talks with the U.S., saying there may be “no harm” in participating with the “enemy.” Nevertheless, extra lately the supreme chief tempered that, saying that negotiations with America “are not intelligent, wise or honorable,” after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
