Iran's leader not optimistic about nuclear talks

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that he is not optimistic about Iran's nuclear negotiations with the world powers, state-run Press TV reported.

Some Iranian officials believe that "if we negotiate with the United States on the nuclear issue, the problem will be solved... I'm not opposed to the talks, but I'm not optimistic," Khamenei said.Iran's nuclear issue is an "excuse" for the United States and will not stop the enmity between the two countries, he said, adding that the U.S. spokespeople raise issues like human rights in Iran and the country's missile capability to stifle Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"Everybody needs to know that the United States is the enemy of the Islamic revolution and its hostility will not terminate with the (nuclear) negotiations," he said.

"Iranian Foreign Ministry officials and the government will continue their mission concerning nuclear talks...and Iran will never violate what it has started," said the Iranian leader one day ahead of the resumption of new round of nuclear negotiations.

In November, Iran and the P5+1 group, which consists of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany,reached an interim deal on Iran's nuclear program in Geneva and implemented it on Jan. 20. They are set to hold a fresh round of talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Tuesday to discuss a comprehensive nuclear agreement.