Iran not divided on ties with US, Khaminei says

In Friday's sermon, Iran's "spiritual leader" Ayatollah Ali Khaminei denied news that Tehran is taking any steps toward rapprochement with Washington, and insisted that there is unity between the top leadership.

It added that Khaminei was commenting on news by Western newspapers that some individuals, groups or even members in the Iranian government intended a reconciliation with the West or the US, describing the reports as untrue and contradictory to reality. Khaminei said the West is trying to promote internal conflict in Iran in an attempt to weaken it.