Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel an ‘illegitimate and bastard regime’ while criticizing Israel’s alliance with the United States on Sunday, Israel Hayom reports.
Khamenei's comments seem to undo the work done by Iran's recently elected "moderate" President Hasan Rouhani, who has been on a charm offensive of late. Rouhani's semingly moderate approach has led to a renewed round of nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 -- U.N. Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S., plus Germany.
Additionally, Khamenei spoke of nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers.
Khamenei voiced his support on Sunday for Iran's talks with world powers over its disputed nuclear program, while expressing pessimism about them.
"No one should see our negotiating team as compromisers," Khamenei, Iran's top decision-maker on its nuclear drive, was quoted as saying on his official website. "I am not optimistic about the [nuclear] negotiations but, with the grace of God, we will not suffer losses either," he added.