Ali Khamenei

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded Saudi Arabia apologise on Sept. 27 for a stampede that killed nearly 770 pilgrims at the hajj, at least 144 of them Iranians.

Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia is responsible for the Sept.24 stampede during the annual hajj in which 131 Iranians were among more than 700 Muslim pilgrims killed.

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guards on Sept.16 to be on alert for "political and cultural" infiltration by the United States.

Iran?s Supreme Leader said on Sept. 3 that he backed a parliamentary vote on a historic nuclear deal reached with six major powers and said sanctions against his country should be lifted completely rather than suspended, state television reported. 

Iran banned a weekly newspaper owned by a critic of its nuclear deal on August 3 and issued a formal warning to the country's leading conservative daily for alleged breaches of reporting guidelines.

Iran's foreign minister moved July 28 to dismiss speculation that his country's nuclear deal with major powers could hit difficulties, saying he had "no concern or worry" about its implementation.

Iran?s foreign minister defended the nuclear deal he reached with world powers after criticism from hardliners, telling the conservative-dominated parliament on July 21 that most if not all of the country?s conditions had been respected. 

The United States and other major powers are not in a rush to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 9, suggesting an accord was unlikely hours ahead of a deadline set by the U.S. Congress for a quick review.

Iran is backtracking from an interim nuclear agreement with world powers three months ago, Western officials suggested on June 28, as U.S. and Iranian officials said talks on a final accord would likely run past a June 30 deadline. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Vienna on June 27 to join a final push for a comprehensive nuclear agreement with major powers, state media reported.