"The Islamic world, whose standard-bearer is the revolutionary Iran, has faced a
massive attack by enemies,” Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani said,
addressing worshippers in Tehran on Friday.
"The enemies led by the US have joined hands against Iran,” he said, adding,
"They are seeking to destroy the (1979 Islamic) Revolution; therefore we need to
know them better.”
"Those who say that negotiation with the US may solve a problem, should hear the
verses of God,” the cleric noted.
Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani went on to say that such negotiations would never
solve any problem of the country.
The comment came after a number of Iranian political activists demanded the
country’s officials to hold direct negotiations with the US to resolve the
standoff over the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The letter said that the talks could protect Iran's national interests and solve
some of its problems.
US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away
from the nuclear agreement.
Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the
highest level” of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.
Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange
for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
Source: Tasnim