Iran's top leader has lashed out at the Unites States, saying America is not a good mediator in Mideast peace talks because it allegedly sides with Israel.
The comments come ahead of the second round of US-brokered Mideast peace talks next week. The talks resumed after a five-year freeze.
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- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the US-hosted talks will "definitely damage the Palestinian side and force the Palestinians to "abandon their rights and encourage the occupier."
He says the "US is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists."
"Definitely .... it is against the interests of the Palestinians."
The Israelis "destroy houses and construct buildings while claiming they want negotiations," said Khamenei.
- Khamenei has final say on all state matters. He spoke during a prayer ceremony on Friday marking the start in Iran of the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.