Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the insistence of some bullying powers on holding talks with Iran does not aim to solve issues.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with heads of the three branches of government and a number of Iranian officials in Tehran on Saturday.
"The insistence of some bully governments on negotiations is not aimed at resolving issues, but rather [aims] to assert and impose their own expectations,” the Leader said.
“Absolutely, the Islamic Republic will not accept their expectations,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
These bullying governments do not seek to negotiate solely on the nuclear issue; instead, they use negotiations as a “path to create new expectations” in areas such as Iran’s defense capabilities and international capabilities, which Iran would definitely oppose, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.
They are raising the issue of negotiations to exert pressure on public opinion, so Iran refuses to hold talks with them despite their expression of readiness, he added.
The Leader criticized Europeans for leveling shameless allegations against Iran, saying their claim that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments is “irrational.”
"You say that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments. Well, did you fulfill yours? You did not comply with [your obligations] from the very beginning," Ayatollah Khamenei told Europeans.
After the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Europeans vowed to compensate but failed to fulfill their promise, the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the principles of Western civilization are contrary to the principles of Islam and “we cannot follow them.”
“We can and should use any benefit [available] anywhere in the world but we cannot rely on the principles of Western civilization,” the Leader said.
The Leader said that the actions of Western nations, including colonization, the plundering of nations' resources, widespread massacres, false claims about human rights and women's rights, and double standards on various issues, have brought disgrace to Western civilization.
“[The claim of] free dissemination of information in the West is nothing more than a lie,” Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader pointed to Iran’s economic woes and stressed the importance of making reforms in the country’s monetary policies and revaluing the national currency.
Ayatollah Khamenei urged all Iranian officials to foster coherence to solve problems, saying the three branches of government and the Armed Forces should strengthen cooperation.
Press TV’s website
