Iran's Khamenei rejects talks with U.S. over missile, nuclear programmes
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ruled
out negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s ballistic missile and
nuclear programmes on Friday and urged Iranians to resist U.S. pressure.
“America’s
brutal sanctions on Iran are aimed at collapsing our economy ... Their aim is
to limit our influence in the region and to halt our missile and nuclear
capabilities,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on television.
“Relying on national capabilities and cutting our
dependence on oil exports will help us to resist America’s pressure.”
Relations between Tehran and Washington have
deteriorated since U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 abandoned a pact between
Iran and six world powers under which Iran accepted curbs on its nuclear
program in return for lifting sanctions.
The United States has reimposed sanctions that have
sharply lowered Tehran’s oil exports. Washington says it wants Tehran to
negotiate a wider deal to further curb Iran’s nuclear work, halt its missile
programme and limit the Islamic Republic’s regional influence.
