Iran’s Khamenei rules out US cooperation barring major policy shift
Iran’s supreme leader said Iran will only consider future cooperation with the US if Washington cuts ties with Israel, withdraws military bases from the region and refrains from interfering in Middle Eastern affairs.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Monday ruled out any prospect of cooperation with the United States unless Washington fundamentally changes its regional policies as officials emphasized that no negotiations are currently underway despite recent diplomatic contacts.
What happened: “The difference between the Islamic Republic and the US is an inherent difference and a conflict of interests,” Khamenei told a gathering of Iranian students in Tehran, according to Iranian media.
He said Iran would only consider future cooperation with Washington “if the US completely cuts off its support for the accursed Zionist regime and withdraws its military bases from the region and does not interfere in [the region’s] affairs.” Even then, Khamenei added, such a request would be considered “not in the near future but later.”
Khamenei’s comments came as Iranian officials downplayed speculation about renewed talks with Washington over Iran’s nuclear program.
