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Iran’s Khamenei bans direct talks with US

August 14, 2018 at 11:01 am

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei [Wikipedia]

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has banned all direct talks with the United States and described an offer by American President Donald Trump for talks as “nothing new”.

“I ban holding any talks with America. America will never fulfill its commitments in talks … it only offers empty words,” Iranian state television quoted Khamenei as saying.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said his country will not hold talks with Washington under threat, describing Trump’s offer for talks as “propaganda”. The Iranian official has criticised the US sanctions and threats, saying that they will not change Tehran’s policies in the region.

READ: Iran rejects Trump offer of talks as ‘humiliation’, without value

He also demanded the US act as a state that respects the other and halts sanctions before starting dialogue.

Remarking on Iran’s missile programme, which he described as defensive, Zarif stressed that there will be no negotiation on the matter because it does not threaten anyone.

Iran Nuclear Deal or Trump protecting Israel - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Iran Nuclear Deal or Trump protecting Israel – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]