Iran's supreme leader bans talks with U.S.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday banned further negotiations between Iran and the United States, putting the brakes on moderates' hopes of ending Iran's isolation after reaching a nuclear deal with world powers in July.

Khamenei, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic, said last month there would be no more talks with the United States after the nuclear deal but had not declared a ban.

His statements directly contradict those of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who says his government is ready to hold talks with the United States on how to resolve the conflict in Syria, where the two countries back opposing sides.

“Negotiations with the United States open gates to their economic, cultural, political and security influence. Even during the nuclear negotiations they tried to harm our national interests,” Khamenei was quoted as saying on his website.

“Our negotiators were vigilant but the Americans took advantage of a few chances,” he said.

Although he supported the last 18 months of negotiations, Khamenei has not publicly endorsed the nuclear agreement with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia that settled a standoff of more than a decade.

The West feared Iran wanted to develop nuclear weapons, suspicions Tehran denies.

The agreement, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting crippling sanctions, was welcomed by Iranians who are hopeful of having their living standards improve and better relations with the rest of the world.

It was a great political victory for Rouhani and his faction in Iran ahead of key elections next year and has deepened the divide in Iran's complex power structure between moderates and hardliners.