Leader not optimistic about talks with US

Iran Press TV

Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:53PM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has expressed skepticism about talks with the United States.

During a meeting with a group of senior Iranian officials on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that he was not opposed to talks with Washington on certain issues.

"…I am not optimistic about negotiation with the US although I have not rejected negotiations over certain issues such as Iraq in the past years," the Leader stated, adding, the US officials are unreliable and dishonest.

The Leader noted that "We have always believed in interaction with the world," but any interaction must be based on a proper recognition of the other side.

Ayatollah Khamenei also hailed Iran's progress in science, saying its key role in regional and global developments are proof of its success in the past 30 years.

At the beginning of 2012, the United States and the EU imposed new sanctions on Iran's oil and financial based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

NT/AS