Iran's Supreme Leader: 'No war or negotiations with the US'

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, affirmed that there will be no war or negotiations with the US. Photo: AP

On his Twitter account, Mr. Khamenei wrote: "Recently, American officials have been talking a lot about us. Besides sanctions, they are talking about war and negotiations.

Regarding this issue, I declare to everyone: There will be no war or negotiations with the US side."

There is now much speculation that Iran will be forced back to the negotiating table after the US withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions.

However, Tehran rejected these talks, saying the US was no longer trustworthy after it violated its commitments under the nuclear deal.

Also on August 13, al-Jazeera TV channel quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying that the country will not restrain its influence in the Middle East, despite the US increasing tensions with Tehran to curb the Islamic Republic's regional activities.

"Iran will not change its policies in the region, despite US sanctions and threats," Mr. Zarif affirmed.

Last May, President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, saying Tehran had failed to address its ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities after 2025, or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.