Leader’s Aide: Iran Not to Sell Regional Allies to US

(FNA)- Iranian Supreme Leader's top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati reiterated that Tehran would never give up support for its regional allies for the sake of a nuclear deal with the world powers.

"We don’t leave our vital interests and friends in the region to please the US," Velayati told the state TV on Tuesday night.

He said Lebanon pushed back the Israeli army during the 33-day war due to Iran's aid, and underlined that Syria would have been conquered by terrorists if Iran had ceased its support for the Syrian nation and government.

"Our strategic interests require us to defend our regional friends and allies that are our most important positive points and are, in fact, a realization of this fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a mighty regional power and the first and strongest power that rushes to defend the regional nations and our allies' interests," he added.

Asked to comment on the recent statement made by US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman about extension of the Vienna agreement and the UN Security Council resolution 2231 from 10 years to 15 years, Velayati rejected her remarks, and said, "Mrs Sherman speaks a lot of nonsense. She has made many such inappropriate statements throughout the negotiations and the Iranian negotiators have cautioned her to avoid making such comments."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also stressed in landmark remarks a few days ago that the nuclear agreement with the world powers could never undermine Tehran's support and assistance to the regional nations.

Addressing worshippers in the Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan) prayers in Tehran on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that whether the text of the nuclear agreement is ratified by the Iranian parliament or not, Iran will continue supporting the oppressed Palestinian nation, Yemen, Bahrain as well as the nations and governments of Syria and Iraq and the honest warriors of Lebanon and Palestine.

Ayatollah Khamenei also underscored that Iran's policy towards the US would not change if the deal is done.

"In any case the policy of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system vis-à-vis  the US will not change," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The Leader pointed to the boastful remarks of the US statesmen and officials in recent days, and said, "The US statesmen and stateswomen are inevitably making boastful remarks these days to resolve their internal problems, but their brags are not real.

He said that Islamic Iran will never yield to excessive demands of the enemies while safeguarding its defensive and security capabilities.