Secretary of State John Kerry called comments by Iran’s supreme leader vowing to defy the U.S. “very disturbing” in an interview taped Monday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the comments just three days after signing the nuclear deal.
“I don’t know how to interpret it at this point in time, except to take it at face value, that that’s his policy,” Kerry told Al-Arabiya. “But I do know that often comments are made publicly and things can evolve that are different. If it is the policy, it’s very disturbing, it’s very troubling, and we’ll have to wait and see.”
But Kerry insisted U.S. officials “are not kidding” about the need to resist Iran’s support for terrorism and proxies, according to Al-Arabiya. “It’s unacceptable,” he added. (RELATED: Here’s How Iran’s Neighbors Feel About The Nuke Deal In Five Comics)
We're governed by gimps. Kerry says Iran vow to defy U.S. is 'very disturbing' http://t.co/Ai4aLp7hzH via @YahooNews
— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) July 21, 2015
Khamenei said the country’s policy toward the “arrogant U.S.” wouldn’t change after deal. The speech was given at a mosque Saturday amid chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” Reuters reported.
Khamenei, 75, has the final say in Iran’s foreign policy, and officials needed his approval for the deal. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif confirmed to Kerry that Khamenei approved the agreement toward the end of discussions, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Iran and six world powers reached an agreement to limit Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions July 14. (RELATED: Experts Outlines The Three Grayest Areas Of Obama’s Big Nuclear Deal)
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