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| Iran’s leader offers no hint of greater U.S. outreach after deals | Iran’s leader offers no hint of greater U.S. outreach after deals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iran’s supreme leader welcomed Tuesday the removal of international sanctions under a nuclear pact, but sharply dimmed hopes of further outreach with the United States after a separate deal that included Tehran’s release of prisoners including a Washington Post journalist. | Iran’s supreme leader welcomed Tuesday the removal of international sanctions under a nuclear pact, but sharply dimmed hopes of further outreach with the United States after a separate deal that included Tehran’s release of prisoners including a Washington Post journalist. |
| The approval of Iran’s top authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was critical to allow last year’s nuclear accord with world powers that limited Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing international economic sanctions. | The approval of Iran’s top authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was critical to allow last year’s nuclear accord with world powers that limited Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing international economic sanctions. |
| Khamenei’s nod also was needed to green-light additional talks that led to the two-country prisoner deal that culminated Saturday. | Khamenei’s nod also was needed to green-light additional talks that led to the two-country prisoner deal that culminated Saturday. |
| Iran freed four Iranian Americans, including Post reported Jason Rezaian, as the United States pardoned or dropped charges against 21 Iranians in connection with sanctions-related cases. In addition, Iran released a fifth American, 30-year-old student Matthew Trevithick, in an apparently linked gesture. | |
| [How the deal came together] | [How the deal came together] |
| But Khamenei — in his first public remarks since the sanctions were lifted on Saturday — offered no further openings to Washington, repeating past warnings about Iran’s deep mistrust of the United States. | But Khamenei — in his first public remarks since the sanctions were lifted on Saturday — offered no further openings to Washington, repeating past warnings about Iran’s deep mistrust of the United States. |
| “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, according to Iranian news agencies. | “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, according to Iranian news agencies. |
| Although there is no clear path for greater U.S.-Iran contacts after more than 35 years of diplomatic estrangement, the high-level connections forged during the long nuclear talks have raised suggestions of new opportunities for interaction. | Although there is no clear path for greater U.S.-Iran contacts after more than 35 years of diplomatic estrangement, the high-level connections forged during the long nuclear talks have raised suggestions of new opportunities for interaction. |
| Last week, State Department officials credited Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s direct talks with Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as key to quickly working out the release of 10 U.S. sailors detained after Iran claimed they crossed into its territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. | Last week, State Department officials credited Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s direct talks with Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as key to quickly working out the release of 10 U.S. sailors detained after Iran claimed they crossed into its territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. |
| On a regional level, Iran plays a central role in supporting Syria’s government and could have important sway in any U.S.-backed political settlement to end the more than five-year crisis. | On a regional level, Iran plays a central role in supporting Syria’s government and could have important sway in any U.S.-backed political settlement to end the more than five-year crisis. |
| [Photo gallery of scenes of arrival and anticipation] | [Photo gallery of scenes of arrival and anticipation] |
| Khamenei, however, noted “pessimism” linked to comments by U.S. politicians as international sanctions were lifted – a provision to the nuclear deal after Iran complied with measures to reduce its nuclear capacities and stockpiles. Khamenei did not cite any specific U.S. officials, but some Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have strongly criticized the accord. | |
| The Obama administration, meanwhile, slapped new sanctions on companies and individuals accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program. Last fall, Iran announced two missile tests. Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, the No. 2 in the powerful Revolutionary Guard, later boasted that Iran’s missile arsenal is so extensive that there is trouble to find storage sites. | The Obama administration, meanwhile, slapped new sanctions on companies and individuals accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program. Last fall, Iran announced two missile tests. Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, the No. 2 in the powerful Revolutionary Guard, later boasted that Iran’s missile arsenal is so extensive that there is trouble to find storage sites. |
| “Expressions by some U.S. politicians in recent days are matter of pessimism,” Khamenei said without elaborating. | “Expressions by some U.S. politicians in recent days are matter of pessimism,” Khamenei said without elaborating. |
| Rezaian, the Post reporter, was undergoing medical tests at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after almost 18 months in an Iranian prison. Rezaian, 39, had faced a closed-door trial on charges including espionage – allegations he strongly denied. | Rezaian, the Post reporter, was undergoing medical tests at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after almost 18 months in an Iranian prison. Rezaian, 39, had faced a closed-door trial on charges including espionage – allegations he strongly denied. |
| “I want people to know that physically, I’m feeling good,” said Rezaian during meetings Monday with the Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, and foreign editor, Douglas Jehl. “I know people are eager to hear from me, but I want to process this for some time.’’ | “I want people to know that physically, I’m feeling good,” said Rezaian during meetings Monday with the Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, and foreign editor, Douglas Jehl. “I know people are eager to hear from me, but I want to process this for some time.’’ |
| Also released in the deal were former Marine Amir Hekmati, 32, of Flint, Mich., and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, 35, of Boise, Idaho. | Also released in the deal were former Marine Amir Hekmati, 32, of Flint, Mich., and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, 35, of Boise, Idaho. |
| Accompanying Rezaian on the flight were his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, an Iranian, and his mother, Mary Rezaian. A fourth Iranian American released as part of the arrangement, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, opted to remain in Iran. The student Trevithick flew out Saturday on his own. | Accompanying Rezaian on the flight were his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, an Iranian, and his mother, Mary Rezaian. A fourth Iranian American released as part of the arrangement, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, opted to remain in Iran. The student Trevithick flew out Saturday on his own. |
| Abedini had been imprisoned since July 2012 for organizing home churches. Hekmati spent more than four years behind bars on spying charges following his arrest in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother. | Abedini had been imprisoned since July 2012 for organizing home churches. Hekmati spent more than four years behind bars on spying charges following his arrest in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |