Iran slams West for not making nuke concessions, Khamenei also upset that some do not take whatever he says as 'orders'.

Iran slams West for not making nuke concessions, Khamenei also upset that some do not take whatever he says as 'orders'.(JPost).

DUBAI - Iran's supreme leader criticized Western powers on Thursday for not offering concessions in talks last week, saying the West was using the nuclear issue as a pretext to impose sanctions and harm the Islamic Republic.

It was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's first reaction to what Iranian officials described as "positive" nuclear talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, during which the P5+1 group of nations offered modest sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing higher grade uranium enrichment.

"Western nations did not accomplish anything that can be construed as a concession, and instead they admitted Iran's rights only to a degree," Khamenei said in an address reported on his official website.

"To assess their integrity, we must wait until the next round of talks," he added.Khamenei said the West was using Iran's nuclear program as a "pretext" to impose sanctions and pressure Iranians to "confront the system."

Iranian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi said today that during his meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader was upset that some does not take whatever he says as orders. Following is the English translation of Gen. Firouzabadi’s recollection of what was said in the meeting:

“Ayatollah Khamenei said he ‘was dismayed when he hears some people refer to whatever he says as (Leader’s) remarks. What is this? I order; I don’t talk unless I am issuing orders.’ We at the General Staff take (Leader’s) remarks as orders and implement them.” (Mehr News Agency, 7 March).

Blogger Uskowi makes the following Note: This is amazing! Even Khomeini, and before him the Shah, did not consider whatever they say as “orders.” This is actually very disturbing.Read the full story here.