German diplomat: Iran letter 'not helpful'

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Diplomats say GOP letter to Tehran strengthens Iran’s hand in nuclear talks, doubt March deadline.




more: German diplomat: Iran letter 'not helpful' - Michael Crowley - POLITICO











Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacts to letter from Republicans


saying he is concerned about fate of nuclear talks because other side is ‘deceitful and back-biting’




Last week, 47 senators wrote an unprecedented letter to “the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, in which they said a nuclear agreement could be reversed with “the stroke of a pen” after Barack Obama leaves office. The letter has caused controversy in the US.
The letter by American senators indicates the collapse of political ethics in the United States
Ayatollah Khamenei
“The letter by American senators indicates the collapse of political ethics in the United States,” Khamenei said on Thursday during a meeting with members of Iran’s top clerical body, which includes President Hassan Rouhani.


“Governments are bound to their commitments by international laws and would not violate their obligations with a change of government,” he said. “They [the Republican senators] said they want to teach us their own laws but we don’t need their lessons, our officials know how to make agreements binding if there’s a deal.”


Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, made clear that Iran’s nuclear negotiators, led by its foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif , have his full support. His backing will shield Iranian diplomats from attacks by hardliners at home as they approach a deadline for a framework deal in the coming weeks.


“The negotiating team that President [Rouhani] has chosen for the talks are good, trustworthy and act based on the interests of the country,” Khamenei said. “But I’m worried because the other side is cunning, deceitful and back-stabbing.


“Each time we approach the deadline for talks, the other side, especially Americans, adopt a harsher and more aggressive tone. This is one of their tricks and a deception.”


Khamenei was speaking to members of Iran’s experts council, which is responsible for appointing and dismissing the supreme leader. But the 75-year-old ayatollah has become so powerful that the council’s supervisory role has diminished to a symbolic one despite members still being elected in public votes.




The council appointed the hardline cleric Mohammad Yazdi as its chairman on Wednesday.


In his speech, Khamenei also condemned the Israeli prime minister B in yamin Netanyahu ’s recent speech to the US Congress which has polarised opinions both in the US and Israel.




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Iran will take no lessons from US, says supreme leader after senators' letter | World news | The Guardian

German diplomat: Iran letter 'not helpful'

Diplomats say GOP letter to Tehran strengthens Iran’s hand in nuclear talks, doubt March deadline.






more: German diplomat: Iran letter 'not helpful' - Michael Crowley - POLITICO
 
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