Ali Khamenei says US still hostile after nuclear deal

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Washington of failing to respect the terms of a nuclear deal that lifts sanctions on Tehran, in a speech on Monday marking Persian New Year.

“The Americans have not respected their commitments,” he said in the speech for Nowruz in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The United States has lifted sanctions “on paper” under Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers that came into effect in January, “but they are using roundabout paths to prevent the Islamic republic from achieving its targets,” Mr Khamenei said.

“They have said they lifted the sanctions... But, in fact, they are working to prevent the lifting of sanctions from taking effect,” he said.

The Nowruz holiday comes just two months after implementation of the deal began, triggering the lifting of a raft of international sanctions and raising the prospect of renewed foreign investment. But Mr Khamenei said the Western allies of Washington remained “afraid” of dealings with Iran.

“Today, in all the Western countries which are under their influence, banking transactions come up against problems,” he said.

“When we investigated, we realised that they are afraid of the Americans.”

Washinton, meanwhile, said the United States is watching Iran “like a hawk” to ensure compliance with the landmark nuclear deal. “The incentives are aligned for Iran to uphold its side of the deal. We’re watching Tehran like a hawk,” vice-president Joe Biden said on Sunday.

Tehran and six world powers, including the United States, agreed to the deal in July when Iran promised to scale down its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of painful UN and Western sanctions, including on its lifeblood oil exports.

“Under this deal, Iran would never be allowed to pursue nuclear weapons, never, never, never,” he told the policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby group.

“If Iran violates the deal, the United States will act,” Mr Biden pledged.

A key provision allows the sanctions to be restored or “snap-back” immediately if Iran is found in breach of the agreement.

Mr Khamenei said, “The economy must be our priority.”