ANKARA — Iran will not rein in its influence in the Middle East despite mounting US pressure on Tehran to curb its regional activities, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV.

“Iran will not change its policies in the region because of US sanctions and threats,” Al Jazeera on Monday quoted Zarif as saying.

Iran has been playing a destabilizing role in the region, supplying weapons to Houthi militias in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is fanning hatred and sectarian divide in many regional countries. It’s troops are fighting alongside Syrian troops, committing atrocities on innocent civilians.

In May, US President Donald Trump exited Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, saying it failed to address Iran’s ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.

Iran’s leader on Monday rejected Trump’s offer of unconditional talks to improve bilateral ties and he also accused the Iranian government of economic mismanagement in the face of reimposed US sanctions.

“I ban holding any talks with America... America never remains loyal to its promises in talks,” said Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on policy in the country.

The sanctions target Iran’s trade in gold and other precious metals, its purchases of US dollars and its car industry.

Washington had said Iran’s only chance of avoiding the sanctions would be to accept Trump’s offer to negotiate for a tougher nuclear deal. Iranian officials already rejected the offer but it is the first time Khamenei has publicly commented.

But Khamenei ruled out the possibility of war with the United States. “They (the Americans) are exaggerating the possibility of a war with Iran. There will be no war... We have never started a war and they will not confront Iran militarily,” he said.

Khamenei, whose remarks on Monday come amid a sharp fall in the rial currency that has prompted angry protests, criticized the government of President Hassan Rohani.

“More than the sanctions, economic mismanagement (by the government) is putting pressure on ordinary Iranians... I do not call it betrayal but a huge mistake in management,” state TV quoted Khamenei as saying.

The rial has lost about half of its value since April in anticipation of the renewed US sanctions, driven mainly by heavy demand for dollars among ordinary Iranians trying to protect their savings.

Thousands of Iranians have protested in recent weeks against sharp rises in the prices of some food items, a lack of jobs and state corruption. The protests over the cost of living have often turned into anti-government rallies. — Agencies