TEHRAN: Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei expressed ambivalence on talks between Iran and six major world powers for a proposed deal on its nuclear program, saying on Thursday he neither agrees nor disagrees with a preliminary agreement reached last week in Switzerland.
The preliminary deal is non-binding, he said in remarks broadcast live, and added that an extension of a June 30 deadline for a final agreement would not be the end of the world.
Syed Khamenei added that details of the final deal are important, warning against devilish US intentions. He said he has never been optimistic about talks with the United States based on past experiences.
The other side which is known for backpedaling on its commitments may want to corner our country when it comes to the specifics [of the negotiations], Supreme Leader said.
So, it is pointless congratulating me and others at this point, he underscored.
Ayatollah Khamenei suggested that what has been done so far cannot ensure a final deal.
What has been done so far neither guarantees [the clinching of] an agreement itself and its contents, nor ensures that the negotiations would proceed to the end, the Leader highlighted.
He then pointed out that he has never been optimistic about negotiations with the US, but that he has supported and will support the negotiators in the current talks.
The Leader underlined that any deal would have to ensure the interests and dignity of the [Iranian] nation.
Not reaching a deal is better than reaching a bad deal, Syed Khamenei said. Invaluable achievements of Iran in the nuclear field should be preserved, he said, insisting that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons.
The Iranian supreme leader also said Irans military sites cannot be inspected under the pretext of supervision.
Iran and P5+1 group of countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – along with officials from the European Union reached a mutual understanding on Tehrans nuclear program after eight days of marathon talks in Switzerland last week.
The two sides will now work on drawing up a final accord by the end of the self-designated June 30 deadline.
‘Saudi making mistake’
Touching upon the developments in Yemen, Iranian leader denounced the Saudi aggression against the Arab country as a mistake, saying the invasion has set a bad precedent in the region.
The Saudi aggression against Yemen compares to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, Ayatollah Khamenei noted, slamming Riyadhs attacks against the Yemeni people as a crime and genocide which could be prosecuted in international courts.
He said the aggression against Yemen will be to the detriment of Saudi Arabia, adding Riyadh will, by no means, emerge victorious in its aggression.
Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon Washingtons backing for Saudi Arabia in attacking Yemen, and noted the US always sides with the oppressor rather that the oppressed.
He strongly denied the allegation that Iran in interfering in Yemen, taking a swipe at the Saudi-led air campaign against the Arab country which has made the skies over Yemen unsafe.
He said the ill-wishers hatching plots against Yemen have sought to create a power vacuum in the country like what happened in Libya, but they have failed to achieve this objective.
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