Iran's leader dismisses U.S. talk offer as "deception"

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday dismissed U.S. offer for talks on mutual prickly issues as "deception."

"Negotiations are their way of deceiving (Iran) into what they want," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website.

He also stressed that Iranian nation will not step back in the face of "cruel" U.S. sanctions.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctions on Iran's Supreme Leader, his office and those closely affiliated with him. Washington also announced that it will sanction Iran's foreign minister next week.

In the meantime, Trump called for negotiations and dialogue with the Iranian officials over the decades-long differences.

Iran also said that fresh U.S. sanctions targeting the country's senior officials are harmful to diplomacy.