Iran Leader Says Will Not Coordinate With U.S. Over Syria

Iran’s supreme leader says Tehran will never coordinate with the United States on Syria and other regional conflicts.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in remarks published on his website July 3 that "we don't want such coordination as their main objective is to stop Iran's presence in the region."

The remarks were transcriptions from a recent speech to students.

Khamenei also repeated demands for the United States to stop interfering in the region, where Tehran views Washington as a hostile rival.

The two are on opposite sides of the Syria conflict, where Tehran supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebel groups, some supported by the West.

Tehran also rejects any coordination with the U.S.-led coalition that is bombing the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq.

However, Tehran does separately support Baghdad and Damascus in their battles with the group.

Based on reporting by AFP and BBC