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Iran's Khamenei Renews Ban on Talks With US

Reuters

   DUBAI - Iran will not lift its ban on talks with the United States,
   Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday, describing the
   two countries as implacable foes on the eve of the 40th anniversary of
   the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

   "One way to block America's political infiltration is to ban any talks
   with America. It means Iran will not yield to America's pressure,"
   Khamenei, who is Iran's top authority, was quoted by state TV as
   saying.
   "Those who believe that negotiations with the enemy will solve our
   problems are 100% wrong."

   Relations between the two foes have reached a crisis over the past year
   after U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned a 2015 pact between Iran
   and world powers under which Tehran accepted curbs to its nuclear
   programin return for lifting sanctions.

   Washington has reimposed sanctions aimed at halting all Iranian oil
   exports, saying it seeks to force Iran to negotiate to reach a wider
   deal. Khamenei has banned Iranian officials from holding such talks
   unless the United States returns to the nuclear deal and lifts all
   sanctions.

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