Special to WorldTribune.com

The supreme leader has the final say in Iranian geopolitics. And Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has just made it clear – no more talks with the United States.

Khamenei’s declaration was seen not only as a shot at U.S. President Barack Obama but at moderates in Iran looking to build momentum for warming relations with the U.S. after this summer’s nuclear negotiations.

Speaking to Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy commanders, Khamenei said previous talks with the United States had brought only disadvantages to Iran.

“Through negotiations Americans seek to influence Iran … but there are naive people in Iran who don’t understand this,” Khamenei said.

The supreme leader’s comments directly contradict those made by moderate President Hassan Rouhani who said Teheran was prepared to hold talks with the U.S. over the situation in Syria.

Khamenei last month had said there would be no further discussions with the United States after the nuclear deal, but did not go as far as to declare an outright ban.

“Negotiations with the United States open gates to their economic, cultural, political and security influence,” Khamenei said on his website. “Even during the nuclear negotiations they tried to harm our national interests.

“Our negotiators were vigilant but the Americans took advantage of a few chances.”

Some observers say Khamenei’s comments will also embolden Iranian hardliners who are seeking the impeachment of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after he shook hands with Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“On and off the record, it was an accident,” Zarif said in an interview with New Yorker on Oct. 6. “It has already cost me at home. But everything I do costs me at home, so this is not an aberration.”

  bans further talks with U.S., Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s Khamenei counters Rouhani, Mohammad Javad Zarif, supreme leader, WorldTribune.com