International

Iran’s supreme leader bans ‘any talks’ after Trump offer

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced Monday that Tehran would not engage in any talks with the United States, according to multiple reports.

“I ban holding any talks with America … America never remains loyal to its promises in talks,” Khamenei said, Reuters reported.

{mosads}The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that Khamenei said negotiation “with the bullying and very eager government of the U.S. means giving it an instrument through which it can add to its hostility.”

President Trump offered to join unconditional talks with Tehran in late July after his administration withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal in May.

Khamenei reportedly said Monday that the withdrawal from the nuclear pact “is a clear proof that American cannot be trusted.”

He went on to rule out the possibility of armed conflict with the United States, saying that “war will not happen,” according to the AP.

The Trump administration renewed sanctions on Iran last week and the Iranian currency quickly plummeted. Khamenei said Monday that the monetary crisis resulted from “management problems unrelated to sanctions” and blamed the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the news service added.