Iran's Khamenei says US 'arrogant power'
Iranian Supreme Leader says Tehran won't be decieved by US reconciliatory behavior, rejects dialogue if result is pre-determined by Washington
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday the United States was a "really arrogant power" and that the Islamic state would not be deceived into reconciliation with its arch foe, state radio reported.
"The American government is a really arrogant power and the Iranian nation will not be deceived with its apparent reconciliatory behavior until America abandons its arrogant attitude," Khamenei was quoted as saying by state radio.
Khamenei also stated Tuesday that Tehran would reject any dialogue if its result is pre-determined by Washington, raising the possibility a mooted nuclear fuel deal may be derailed.
"We do not want any negotiation, the result of which is pre-determined by the United States," Khamenei said in a speech to students on the eve of Wednesday's 30th anniversary of the US embassy seizure by radical Islamist students in Tehran.
"A dialogue like this is like a sheep and wolf relation, which the late imam (Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini) has said that we 'do not want'," Khamenei said.
Iran is currently engaged in high-profile talks, backed by Washington, with world powers over procuring nuclear fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
Khamenei also warned he will not allow people with "ill-intentions" towards the Islamic republic to "throw out a red carpet for the United States."
