Khamenei not optimistic but backs Iran nuclear talks

TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader said Sunday he is not optimistic but supports revived talks with world powers over his country's nuclear drive as they are incapable of hurting the Islamic republic.

The remarks by the all-powerful Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came ahead of a new round of negotiations with the so-called P5+1 group of world powers in Geneva on November 7 and 8.

"I am not optimistic about the negotiations but, with the grace of God, we will not suffer losses either," Khamenei said, quoted by his official website Khamenei.ir.

"All the better if the negotiations bear fruit but if there are no results, the country should rely on itself," he told a group of students at his residence, a day before the anniversary of the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Next week's talks are aimed at curbing Iran's sensitive nuclear work in exchange for an easing of international sanctions strangling its ailing economy.

It will be the second such meeting since Hassan Rouhani took office as Iran's president in August with a stated mandate of lifting the sanctions through constructive engagement.

Khamenei also criticised the US policy of approaching Iran's nuclear work on two fronts of sanctions and diplomacy.

"The Americans smile and express desire for negotiation; on the other hand, they immediately say that all options are on the table," he said, referring to US and Israeli threats of military action should the talks fail.

"We should not trust a smiling enemy," Khamenei warned, as the crowd of students chanted "Death to America".