‘No war, no negotiations with US’

Iran’s supreme leader said on Monday there would be neither war nor negotiations with the United States, and that the country’s problems were the result of government mismanagement more than renewed sanctions.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments add to the pressure on President Hassan Rouhani following a currency collapse and widespread protests over high prices and corruption.

They also appeared to rule out any hope of fresh talks with Washington, which US President Donald Trump had proposed after walking out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and reimposing sanctions.

“Beside sanctions, they are talking about war and negotiations – let me say: there will be no war, nor will we negotiate with the US,” Khamenei said.

Despite renewed sanctions, many Iranians see US hostility as only a contributing factor to longstanding problems inside the country. “Today’s livelihood problems do not emerge from outside, they are internal,” Khamenei said.

“Not that sanctions don’t have an impact, but the main factor is how we handle them.”

There was also a show of military resolve as Defence Minister Amir Hatami unveiled a next-generation short-range ballistic missile.

He also vowed to further boost the country’s missile capabilities.