Iran nuclear deal not to change Tehran's policies against 'arrogant' US says Supreme Leader Khamenei

The successful nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 powers does not change Tehran's hostile policies towards the "arrogant" US government, said the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Addressing a gathering to mark Eid al-Fitr in Tehran, Khamenei insisted Iran will not give in to the "excessive demands" irrespective of the deal.

Khamenei, the highest political authority in Iran, said: "Amid an atmosphere of threat the enemies have created, as far as safeguarding its defence and security capabilities are concerned, the Islamic Republic will never bow to the enemy's excessive demands."

During his speech at Tehran's Mosala mosque, he continued with his anti-American rhetoric saying: "The Americans say they stopped Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. They know it's not true. We had a fatwa [Islamic edict], declaring nuclear weapons to be religiously forbidden under Islamic law. It had nothing to do with the nuclear talks."

Khamenei's remarks have come as a surprise since Iran's top authorities, including President Hassan Rohani, had hailed the latest nuclear talks, which ended the 12-year old standoff with the Western world. The supreme leader himself had praised the role of Iranian delegates in the negotiations following the positive outcome.

Evoking slogans such as "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," Khamenei added these precisely reflect the mood of Iranians against the country's adversaries.

"We have repeatedly said we don't negotiate with the US on regional or international affairs; not even on bilateral issues. There are some exceptions like the nuclear programme that we negotiated with Americans to serve our interests... US policies in the region are diametrically opposed to Iran's policies."