Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday his country will not negotiate with the United States because America would only use talks for propaganda purposes.
The Trump administration has said it is willing to talk with Iran with no preconditions, but that the U.S. will continue its campaign of pressure against the Islamic Republic.
In a televise speech marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Khamenei said Trump would benefit from talks, saying he wants to use negotiations with us for propaganda like negotiations with North Korea referring to talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong un.
Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the nuclear accord between Iran and Western powers in May 2018. Iran later responded by slowly abandoning nearly every aspect of the agreement, though it still allows U.N. inspectors access to its nuclear sites.
Khamenei said the U.S. wants Iran to give up its nuclear program, defense facilities and regional authority at the negotiating table. (AP)