Iran leader predicts Israel gone within 25 years
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that his country will not enter into talks with the United States outside of the nuclear deal with world powers as Washington could use other negotiations to "penetrate" the Islamic Republic.
Khamenei's comments, published on his website, come as enough U.S. lawmakers now support the nuclear deal to block passage of a resolution of disapproval and hand President Obama a major foreign policy victory.
"We approved talks with the United States about nuclear issue specifically. We have not allowed talks with the U.S. in other fields and we not negotiate with them," Khamenei said.
Speaking to a group of people in Tehran, Khamenei reiterated that America remains the "Great Satan."
"The Iranian nation ousted the Satan. We should not let it back through the window to penetrate" Iran, he said.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signaled that Iran is ready to hold talks with the world powers on ways to resolve Syria's civil war, providing such negotiations can secure peace and democracy in the conflict-torn country. Iran supports embattled President Bashar Assad, whom the U.S. opposes.
Khamenei also reiterated his hard stance against Israel.
"I say that you (Israelis) will not see the coming 25 years and, God willing, there will not be something named the Zionist regime in next 25 years," he said.
Iran does not recognize Israel and supports militant anti-Israeli groups like the Palestinian Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah groups.
Israel, which repeatedly criticized the nuclear deal, has not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.