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| Iran's Khamenei rejects US nuclear talks offer | Iran's Khamenei rejects US nuclear talks offer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iran's supreme leader has dismissed a US offer of one-to-one talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. | Iran's supreme leader has dismissed a US offer of one-to-one talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech posted online that the US was proposing talks while "pointing a gun at Iran". | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech posted online that the US was proposing talks while "pointing a gun at Iran". |
| On Saturday, US Vice-President Joe Biden suggested direct talks, separate to the wider international discussions due to take place later this month. | On Saturday, US Vice-President Joe Biden suggested direct talks, separate to the wider international discussions due to take place later this month. |
| But the US widened sanctions on Iran on Wednesday, aiming to tighten a squeeze on Tehran's ability to spend oil cash. | But the US widened sanctions on Iran on Wednesday, aiming to tighten a squeeze on Tehran's ability to spend oil cash. |
| Iran, which is subject to an array of international sanctions, has long argued that its nuclear programme is for energy generation and research. | Iran, which is subject to an array of international sanctions, has long argued that its nuclear programme is for energy generation and research. |
| Tehran's critics believe the government is developing nuclear weapons. | Tehran's critics believe the government is developing nuclear weapons. |
| The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have held a series of negotiations over the years, but there has been no breakthrough. | The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have held a series of negotiations over the years, but there has been no breakthrough. |
| Mr Biden offered during a security conference in Germany to hold direct talks. | Mr Biden offered during a security conference in Germany to hold direct talks. |
| He said Washington was prepared to hold one-to-one talks with Iran "when the Iranian leadership, supreme leader, is serious". | |
| "That offer stands, but it must be real and tangible and there has to be an agenda that they are prepared to speak to. We are not just prepared to do it for the exercise," he said. | |
| But the ayatollah said such negotiations "would solve nothing". | But the ayatollah said such negotiations "would solve nothing". |