ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei expressed that Tehran is open to talks with Europe but not America. Although not a direct response, his remarks came hours after statements by a top US official "certainly" blamed Iran for attacks on oil resources in the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signaled on Wednesday that talks with Washington were possible if sanctions were lifted, but Khamenei's comments odds with the head of state.
He told a meeting of a group of professors, intellectuals and researchers that the problem for Tehran isn't negotiating in principle, but rather on the issue they are negotiating about.
“We have no issue negotiating with Europeans and others. Our issue in negotiating with Europeans and others is specifying the topics," Khamenei said, according to his media office.
"We won’t negotiate about the fundamentals of the [Islamic] Revolution. We won’t negotiate over military capabilities, negotiating in this regard is a transaction, and it means giving up on your defensive capabilities," he added.
Facing biting US sanctions, currency devaluation, and few allies, Khamenei would not back down, arguing that the Islamic Republic still has options.
"The only way we have facing American pressures is to use our own pressure tools and these tools contrary to their propaganda are not the military — if necessary we can use military lever..." he said.
Iran suspended two articles of the nuclear deal, formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in early May and has warned the European and other powers that if they do not aid Iran in its banking and oil sectors in 60 days, then Tehran would suspend further articles of the deal.
The decision of the Supreme National Security Council "suspending our commitments and exit our commitment was the right move."
Khamenei re-emphasized that fatwas prevent Iran pursuing nuclear weapons.
"We are not after nuclear weapons, not because of sanctions or America, because we believe it is haram from sharia point of view and from the jurisprudence," he said.
The statement by the Supreme National Security Council suffices, according to Khamenei. "Now, if need be, we will use more levers."
Bolton was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday while speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi ahead of meetings between Arab leaders set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
“I think it is clear these [tanker attacks] were naval mines almost certainly from Iran,” US National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Wednesday. “There is no doubt in anybody’s mind in Washington who is responsible for this and I think it’s important that the leadership in Iran know that we know.”
Bolton was referring to the sabotage earlier this month of four vessels near the Port of Fujairah near the Strait of Hormuz
He expressed worry over the attack that connects pumping stations to Abu Dhabi's East-West pipeline and over a rocket that fell just days later in the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital.
“We are very concerned about the Quds Force and Qassem Soleimani using Shiite militia groups and others in Iraq as indirect ways to attack our embassy in Baghdad, consulate in Erbil, our various bases around the country,” he said.
The Green Zone is home to the US embassy. Following the "unspecified threat" the State Department ordered all non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy and consulate in Erbil.
No group has claimed the attacks, but Iraqi officials have repeatedly said they want to avoid becoming a battleground amid growing Washington-Tehran tensions.
US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan was asked about the issue by his press gaggle on Wednesday.
"When the President says he doesn't want a war with Iran, I think that's pretty clear, right? I mean, I don't think anyone wants a war with Iran. I don't think you'll find people in the National Security at preset who wants a war with Iran. Nobody wants a war. The President is very clear," he replied.
A reporter then asked about Bolton's position.
"Nobody wants war," he replied.
Update: 11:50 p.m.
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