The Supreme Leader has used a New Year’s speech in Mashhad to deliver his verdict on the state of Iran’s nuclear talks with the US and the other 5+1 Powers: “America is the root of all the problems. We should not trust them.”

The theme of a dishonest US is far from new in Ayatollah Khamenei’s declarations, but the timing of today’s address is significant. It comes just after the adjournment of the latest round of negotiations, and 10 days before an informal US deadline for agreement.

See Iran Daily: Nuclear Talks Adjourn to Next Week — Deadlock or Hope?

Khamenei declared, “The enemy wants to destroy the incredible security of our county by [misguiding] our own people.” He then told the audience that it is suitable to chant “Death to America” because it is the root cause of pressure against Iran.

Talking about the specific of the nuclear talks, the Supreme Leader emphasized repeatedly, “All sanctions must be removed at once, not in steps” after a deal.

And if an agreement was not reached? Khamenei again promoted his idea of “Resistance Economy”: “We must be self sufficient…. We should not depend on others for our economy.” He said that the Islamic Republic would succeed even though the price of oil, upon which Iran relies for most of its export revenues, has been halved since last June. Steps would include reduction of smuggling and imports and investment in science and technology.

He closed with defiance, whether or not a nuclear agreement is reached, indicating that Iran will not work with the US on regional issues such as the fight against the Islamic State:

When they talk of the military option, Iranian people are not afraid….All should know the only subject of the talks is nuclear, nothing else, we oppose each other.