Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Saturday Iran should continue talks with Europe over the nuclear deal but must first draw on domestic potential to solve economic problems instead of waiting for the Europeans to help.
"Negotiations with the Europeans should not discontinue,But we should not wait for a European proposal…Instead pursue the many actions that need to be taken inside the country," he told Foreign Ministry officials and Iranian ambassadors in Tehran, his official website reported.
The country's untapped potential should be effectively utilized, he said, adding that it is an "obvious mistake" to think that rapprochement or relations with the United States could help resolve domestic problems.
"Neither the word nor the signature of the Americans can be trusted. Negotiations with the United States are of no avail."
Fundamental Problem
"The US has a fundamental problem with the very existence of the Islamic Republic ruling establishment," Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding, "There are many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America that have relations with the United States but are still grappling with a variety of problems."
The Americans want to regain the status they had in Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution when the former Shah was a close US ally and will not be satisfied with anything less than that, the Leader said.
Ideological Diplomacy
He advised Iranian diplomats to pursue "ideological diplomacy" as it helps protect national interests while allowing the country to interact with the outside world wisely and with clarity of purpose.
New life should be injected into the diplomatic apparatus, Ayatollah Khamenei said, calling for the expansion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with regional organizations.
Regional Presence
Ayatollah Khamenei described Iran’s presence in the region as a key component of the Islamic Republic’s power and security, noting that that’s why enemies are opposed to Iran’s role and influence in the strategic region.
"Regional presence is among the elements of Iran’s power and status and tantamount to the country’s strategic standing. And that is why hostile powers are opposed to it.”
The US is opposed to Iran’s nuclear energy program, uranium enrichment capabilities, and its presence in the region, the Leader noted, describing it as a sign of America’s deep-seated animosity towards the Islamic Republic.
President's Stance
The Leader also said President Hassan Rouhani's recent remarks about Iran's oil exports reflect the stance of the ruling system.
"It is the task of the Foreign Ministry to seriously follow up on such stances announced by the president."
He was referring to the president's comments during a trip to Switzerland earlier this month, in which Rouhani pledged that Tehran will stand firm against US threats to halt Iranian oil exports, saying that no country in the region would be able to export oil if Iran is deprived of doing so.
Although Rouhani did not elaborate, his words were interpreted as a veiled threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil shipping route in the Persian Gulf, in retaliation for any hostile US action against Iran.
Diplomatic Efforts
Prior to the Leader's speech, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his ministry is focused on "economic diplomacy" with the aim of safeguarding national interests.
He noted that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have once again resorted to spreading Iranophobia but failed in their efforts because “today they are isolated even among their closest allies.”