Roundup: Feud and distrust remain between Iran and U.S.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday echoed his recent fiery remarks against the U.S., saying that Washington's policies and its threats against Iran remain constant even after the nuclear deal reached with Tehran in July 2015.

On Friday, Khamenei said that U.S. is the "enemy" of the Islamic revolution of Iran and should not be trusted.

"The Americans, whether the government, Congress or presidential candidates, continue to make excessive demands and threats," Khamenei said, adding that "their stance and threats haven't changed."

"The enemy calculates reactions and if it senses any passivity or acquiescence from the opposing side, it increases its demands," he said.

Under such circumstances, "we cannot remain silent when insulted by insolent enemies. We must to be present in the international arena in order to silence them with a strong response," Kamenei said during a meeting with new Iranian legislators.

He said Friday that "the experience from the nuclear talks has shown that the U.S. will not quit its destructive measures" against Iran.

In the nuclear negotiations, Iran sat with the representatives of the P5+1 (namely Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany) and even separately with U.S. to reach a common ground, he said, adding that however, "the U.S. backed out and did not implement its commitments."

"If any political trend trusts the U.S., it will commit a grave mistake," Khamenei made the remarks in a ceremony held on Friday to commemorate the 27th death anniversary of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

"The U.S. is the enemy of Iranian Islamic revolution, and this is in the nature of the U.S. that requires enmity, since their interests are in contradiction with Iran," he said.

The Iranian supreme leader reiterated his insistence on relying the domestic potentials to improve the economy of the country, and criticized the views which call for Iran's integration with the global economy.

Iran and the world powers reached a nuclear agreement on the former's disputed nuclear program in July last year, which was implemented in January to lift some western sanctions against Iran in return for significant restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran has incessantly said that fear from the U.S. pressures have stopped the international companies as well as the monetary institutions to cooperate with Iran in the aftermath of the nuclear implementation, hence no gain for Iran from the deal.

The U.S. still imposes sanctions against Iran, over alleged human rights violations and supporting terrorism, claims all denied by Iran.

Furthermore, Washington recently blacklisted several Iranian and foreign entities owing to their involvement in Iran's missile program.

These restrictions bar U.S. companies as well as international companies from undertaking business transactions with Iran's government.

On Saturday, the U.S. administration issued its annual State Department report in which it designated the Islamic republic of Iran as a leading sponsor of global terrorism, a claim which was rejected by Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Iranian senior officials said they would assist regional countries and resistance movements facing the continued occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel as well as the spreading of regional extremism.

On Sunday, Khamenei referred to Iran's "important" role in the Middle East's political direction, stating that Iran is the only obstacle preventing the triumph of Washington's strategy for the volatile Middle East region.

They were planing for a "new Middle East," a "greater Middle East," several years ago, but their plans for Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, have failed due to Iran's defiance, Khamenei said according to Press TV.

"There is a need to stand up to hegemonic policies and unmask their arrogant stance," added the Iranian leader. Endit