Iranian Cleric: No End to US Enmity
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian cleric said the US hostility toward Iran will remain in place irrespective of what happens in the course of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Addressing a gathering of worshippers in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said it would be naive to think that the US will put aside enmity if Iran succumbs to pressures over its peaceful nuclear energy program.
The US puts all its failures and whatever damage it has suffered down to Islam and Muslims, the top cleric noted, saying Washington is determined to take revenge.
Ayatollah Jannati further called on the Iranian negotiators engaged in nuclear talks with world powers to consider the country’s red lines.
“The negotiating team should consider and observe the Leader’s views, the red lines, as well as the dignity, interests, sovereignty and honor of the (Islamic) Revolution, Islam and people,” he underlined.
In comments on Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani referred to research and development (R&D) as a red line for Iran in its nuclear talks with world powers, reaffirming that the country's negotiating team will stick to the lines set by the Supreme Leader.
"R&D is our red line and the negotiators are well aware of the red lines," Rouhani said, adding that the Government is committed to the guidelines set by the Supreme Leader and will not sign any nuclear deal that would give foreigners access to the country's scientific and military secrets.
Iran and Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) have been negotiating to hammer out a lasting accord that would end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.
On April 2, the two sides reached a framework nuclear agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both sides committed to push for a final deal until the end of June.