Iran leader says policy on US won’t change

Tehran: Iran´s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that a landmark nuclear deal with world powers would not affect the country´s avowed stance against an "arrogant" United States government.

The remarks were greeted by chants of "Death to America" from the crowd at a ceremony in Tehran to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramazan.

While such hardline rhetoric is familiar -- the US and Iran severed diplomatic ties the year after the Islamic revolution of 1979 -- the supreme leader´s words highlighted the sharp differences between Iran and the West over the multiple conflicts gripping the Middle East despite Tuesday´s historic nuclear deal.

"Our policies toward the arrogant US government will not change. US policies in the region differ from Iran´s by 180 degrees," he said.

The deal between Iran and six powers led by the United States has raised suggestions it might pave the way for greater cooperation from Tehran on other issues, particularly the war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Khamenei did not rule out that possibility, noting there can be "exceptional circumstances" that justify talks, such as the nuclear issue, but insisted there would be no broader detente.

"We haven´t any other talks with the US on regional and bilateral issues," he said.

Tehran and Washington had informal discussions in 2001 when US troops invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban from power after the September 11 attacks.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, has said repeatedly that Iran´s engagement with the powers was solely to reach a nuclear deal that was in its national interest.

He told worshippers that the agreement would not alter Iran´s support for the governments of Syria and Iraq nor its backing of "oppressed people" in Yemen and Bahrain, and the Palestinians.

The US, in contrast, he said, had backed Israeli "atrocities" in Gaza last year.
"How can we negotiate and agree with such policies?" Khamenei asked.

Iran has provided money and military advisers to support President Bashar al-Assad´s regime in Syria against rebels it accuses Gulf Arab states of arming with Western connivance. (AFP)