Iran’s supreme leader bans further negotiations with the US

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday banned any further negotiations between Iran and the United States, just months after Tehran reached a nuclear deal with the Obama administration and other world powers. 

{mosads}The ban directly contradicts statements by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who said his government is ready to hold talks with the U.S. on how to resolve the conflict in Syria, Reuters reported. 

Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, bashed negotiations with the U.S. in remarks on his website, saying they disadvantaged his nation. 

“Negotiations with the United States open gates to their economic, cultural, political and security influence. Even during the nuclear negotiations they tried to harm our national interests,” Khamenei is quoted as saying. 

“Through negotiations Americans seek to influence Iran … but there are naive people in Iran who don’t understand this,” Khamenei told military commanders. 

Khamenei supported the negotiations for the Iran deal, which will lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program. He has not publicly endorsed the deal since it was unveiled in July, however.