Everything lies in details, says Leader on nuclear talks

“Everything lies in the details,” said the Leader in an address on Thursday.

“The other side which is known for backpedaling on its commitments may want to corner our country when it comes to the specifics [of the negotiations],” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

“So, it is pointless congratulating me and others at this point,” the Leader underscored.

Ayatollah Khamenei suggested that what has been done so far cannot ensure a final deal.

“What has been done so far neither guarantees [the clinching of] an agreement itself and its contents, nor ensures that the negotiations would proceed to the end,” the Leader highlighted.

Ayatollah Khamenei then pointed out that “he has never been optimistic about negotiations with the US,” but that he “has supported and will support the negotiators” in the current talks.

The Leader underlined that any deal would have to “ensure the interests and dignity of the [Iranian] nation.”

Iran and P5+1 group of countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – along with officials from the European Union reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program after eight days of marathon talks in Switzerland last week.

The two sides will now work on drawing up a final accord by the end of the self-designated June 30 deadline.

 

‘Saudi making mistake’

Touching upon the developments in Yemen, the Leader denounced the Saudi aggression against the Arab country as a “mistake,” saying the invasion has “set a bad precedent in the region.”

The Saudi aggression against Yemen compares to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, Ayatollah Khamenei noted, slamming Riyadh’s attacks against the Yemeni people as a “crime and genocide” which could be prosecuted in international courts.

He said the aggression against Yemen will be to the detriment of Saudi Arabia, adding Riyadh will, by no means, emerge victorious in its aggression.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon Washington’s backing for Saudi Arabia in attacking Yemen, and noted the US always sides with the oppressor rather that the oppressed.

The Leader strongly denied the allegation that Iran is interfering in Yemen, taking a swipe at the Saudi-led air campaign against the Arab country which has “made the skies over Yemen unsafe.”

He said the “ill-wishers” hatching plots against Yemen have sought to create a power vacuum in the country like what happened in Libya, but “they have failed to achieve this objective.”