Iran's supreme leader Khamenei rules out talks with U.S.

Tensions mount between the arch-foes after Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on Saudi oil installations

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran will never hold talks with the United States and Washington's policy of maximum pressure on Tehran will fail, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday, according to state TV.

U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Monday he could meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and that he had no problem with such an encounter.

State TV quoted Khamenei as saying: “Iranian officials will never talk to America ... this is part of their (U.S.) policy to put pressure on Iran ... their policy of maximum pressure will fail.”