Iran on Wednesday said talks with the United States over Iraq would not mark a breakthrough between the two countries, saying its policy of not negotiating with Washington was unchanged.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would merely use the talks with US officials over Iraq to remind Washington of its "occupiers' duty" in the conflict-torn country. "The Iranian foreign ministry, at the request of Iraq, decided to participate in face-to-face talks with the United States and remind them of their duties and responsibilities over the security of Iraq," he said.
"They (the United States) made a written request for these talks and said they will not discuss any other issues except Iraq," Khamenei said in remarks broadcast on state television.
"And we tell them: even the Iraqi issue does not concern you and talks are only over the occupiers' duty about the security of Iraq," he added.
"The Islamic republic's policy in not negotiating with the United States remains, as long as the policies of this arrogant government have not changed," Khamenei said. He also rounded on "elements" within Iran who believed that change was in the air over US-Iranian relations.
"If some elements inside the country think the Islamic republic has changed its policy of not talking to the United States, they are gravely mistaken," he said.
