Iran’s supreme leader reportedly said on Thursday that the U.S. would not be able to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon should it choose to do so.
The Associated Press reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that “if [Iran] planned to produce nuclear weapons, America could not do anything.”
{mosads}The AP also reported that Khamenei said during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Tehran “will in no way repeat” talks with the U.S.
“We have no doubt about your good will and seriousness, but … I don’t regard [President] Trump as deserving any exchange of messages,” Khamenei told Abe at the meeting, the news service added.
Abe, who is in Iran to discuss trade with Japan and U.S.-Iran relations, reportedly warned Khamenei about the prospect of “accidental conflict” erupting with the U.S.
His comments came as two oil tankers reportedly bearing cargo bound for Japan were hit by explosions on Thursday, injuring some crew members and causing severe damage to the ships.
Iran’s foreign minister called the explosions “suspicious” on Twitter.
“Reported attacks on Japan-related tankers occurred while PM @AbeShinzo was meeting with Ayatollah @khamenei_ir for extensive and friendly talks,” Javad Zarif wrote, adding: “Suspicious doesn’t begin to describe what likely transpired this morning.”
Iran remains in a 2014 nuclear agreement with several world powers despite the United States’ withdrawal from that pact under the Trump administration.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been high, with the U.S. deploying a carrier strike group as well as 1,500 troops to the region in recent weeks.