AP, Tehran :
Iran’s top leader on Tuesday called for vigilance in ensuring that world powers meet their commitments under a newly implemented nuclear deal while expressing “pessimism” about U.S. intentions, state media reported.
In his first public remarks since international sanctions were lifted following a U.N. report that Iran had fully complied in scaling back its nuclear program, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran should “exercise care the other party implements its commitments.”
He added that “expressions by some U.S. politicians in recent days are matter of pessimism,” without elaborating.
The remarks, his first since the deal was implemented over the weekend, came in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday. Khamenei said Iran has paid heavy prices for concluding the deal.
On Sunday, President Barack Obama announced sanctions on 11 individuals over Iran’s ballistic missile testing in October and pledged to counter Iran’s “destabilizing behavior” across the Mideast.
Khamenei, the country’s top decision maker, has praised Iran’s negotiators while continuing to express deep mistrust of the United States.
Under the deal, Iran admitted to cap its nuclear activities in return to lifting sanctions from the country. The West had long suspected Iran’s nuclear program has military dimension. Iran denied the charge.
State television reported that Khamenei wrote to President Hassan Rouhani to congratulate him on implementing the nuclear deal, which resulted in U.S., European Union and United Nations sanctions being lifted over the weekend.
In his first comments since the deal took effect, Iran’s highest authority made clear that Washington should still be treated with suspicion. He made no mention of a surprise prisoner exchange that also took place this weekend.
“I reiterate the need to be vigilant about the deceit and treachery of arrogant countries, especially the United States, in this (nuclear) issue and other issues,” Khamenei said.
“Be careful that the other side fully meets its commitments. The comments made by some American politicians in last two, three days are suspicious,” he added.
Republican candidates for the U.S. presidency have criticized the deal, and some Iranian officials fear Washington could walk away from the deal when President Barack Obama leaves office in early 2017.
Hopes for a broader rapprochement between the two countries were dashed on Sunday when Washington slapped new sanctions on companies accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program, drawing an angry response from Iranian officials.
