CRI听力:Iran Nuclear Talks: Supreme Leader Says No Deal Is Better Than Bad Deal

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has gone on-record suggesting "no deal is better than a bad deal" when it comes to negotiations with world powers over the country's nuclear program.

Khamenei has made the comments while meeting with leaders of Iran's air force.

"They are trying to make it appear as if Iran is desperate in the nuclear issue. That is not true. I say it hereby that I agree with a possible deal but not a bad deal. Americans have repeatedly said that they believe no deal is better than a bad deal. Yes, we believe in that too. We think that no deal is better than a bad deal that is against our national interests and humiliates the great nation of Iran."

Iran and the P5+1 group of nations, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, have a deadline to make a political agreement by March.

A technical agreement is supposed to be worked out by the end of June.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meantime, is trying to stop what Israel considers a "bad deal."

"We will continue to act and lead the international effort against Iran arming itself with a nuclear weapon and we will do everything to thwart a bad and dangerous deal that will cast a dark cloud on the future of the state of Israel and its security."

Netanyahu has been invited to speak to the US congress to support proposed legislation for further sanctions against Iran.

US President Barack Obama has publically denounced any additional sanctions on Iran, suggesting their implementation could derail the current negotiations.