Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei once again warned of US intentions to make inroads into Iran, reiterating Tehran's policy of non-negotiation with the United States except on the nuclear issue.
"We allowed talks with the US on exclusively the nuclear dispute for certain declared reasons and, thank God, our nuclear negotiators performed well," the Leader said, IRNA reported.
"But, we will not negotiate with the US on any other issue," he stressed, noting, "The Americans intend to use negotiations as a means to gain influence in Iran and impose their demands."
He made the remarks in a meeting with people from all walks of life in Tehran on Wednesday.
"But we favor negotiations on various issues… with any country other than the Great Satan," a term coined by the late Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in reference to the United States.
The main reason behind Washington's hostility toward the establishment and the nation is that the 1979 Islamic Revolution spelled an end to its interests in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
***Watchful Eye
Referring to the upcoming parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, he underlined the "effective, legal" role of the Guardian Council in ensuring that elections are sound, saying, "(The council) acts as the system's watchful eye in elections."
The role of the council should be "preserved", the Leader said, adding, "It is the legal and reasonable right of the council to stop any unqualified candidates from running for elections."
The Guardian Council is a 12-member panel of religious jurists and legal experts responsible for vetting candidates seeking public office and has the power to reject anyone it deems unfit.
He denounced efforts to undermine the public trust by raising skepticism about the fairness of elections, saying, "Clearly, elections are held under strict supervision" so any misconduct is unlikely.
