Iran’s leader rejects notion of talks with US as surrender to Donald Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy

Tehran and Washington have been at loggerheads since May last year when Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions

Tensions have mounted even further in recent days following an ‘unprecedented’ attack on Saudi oil facilities that the US blames on Iran

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in Tehran on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:57pm, 17 Sep 2019Updated: 11:08pm, 17 Sep 2019

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the United States, as tensions mount between the arch-foes after Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on Saudi oil installations.

“The policy of ‘maximum pressure’ against the Iranian nation is worthless and all Islamic Republic of Iran officials unanimously believe there will be no negotiations with the US at any level,” he said, quoted on his official website.

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, centre, inspects domestically developed nuclear technology in April. Photo: EPA

Tehran and Washington have been at loggerheads since May last year when US President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal and began reimposing crippling sanctions in a campaign of “maximum pressure”.

Iran responded by scaling back its commitments under the landmark accord, which gave it the promise of sanctions relief in return for limiting the scope of its nuclear programme.

The US said on Monday that its military was readying a response to the “unprecedented” weekend attacks on Saudi oil facilities.