Iran Bars U.S. Ties but Vows Hostage Help

Iran’s spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Wednesday he will not allow negotiations or any diplomatic relations with the United States.

But he said Tehran will continue its efforts toward the release of Western hostages in Lebanon “as a humanitarian duty.”

“We have no need for our sworn enemies such as America to sympathize with us, and we are by no means after holding talks and establishing relations with it,” Khamenei said in a speech to a group of teachers broadcast on Tehran Radio. The broadcast was monitored in Nicosia.

Khamenei’s remarks appeared to be aimed at ending controversy within Iran over Tehran’s attitude toward the United States after the release of two American hostages by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.

Hard-liners had attacked an article by Deputy President Ayatollah Mohajerani in the Ettelaat newspaper last week that said Iran should start direct contacts with the United States to reap maximum benefits from its role in freeing the hostages.

President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has called for an end to the hostage crisis and better relations with the West, has so far not commented on the policy dispute.

President Bush has thanked Iran for its role in the release Monday of American hostage Frank H. Reed. Iran said it also used its influence to free Robert Polhill the week before.