Iran still closed to US influence, fate of n-deal unclear: Khamenei

Iran will not allow US to make inroads into the country after its nuclear deal with big powers, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted on Monday, adding that it will continue to oppose US policies in the Middle East.

Khamenei, the country's highest authority, has refrained from making decisive statements on the July 14 nuclear agreement, but gave President Hassan Rouhani crucial political cover to pursue talks with the six powers, Press TV reported.

He said the opposite side in nuclear negotiations was seeking to clinch an agreement with the country to find a way to infiltrate into the Islamic Republic.

Khamenei, however, said that Iran did not and will not allow them to achieve their goal.

"We will firmly block their way. We will not allow the US to make economic, political or cultural inroads into the country. We will counter such infiltration with all our power," the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that "We should first identify the enemy's intentions and then counter their objectives through planning".

The 76-year-old cleric said the US seeks to hold sway in the region to pursue its objectives, but stressed that Tehran will counter Washington's policies.

"They are after disintegrating Iraq and Syria", he said, but noted that Washington's plots will fall flat thanks to God's power.

Tehran agreed to verifiable limits on its atomic energy programme to create confidence that it will not be put to developing nuclear weapons, in exchange for lifting international sanctions crippling its oil-based economy.

In Iran, a debate is ongoing on the need for parliament to approve the agreement.

A majority of lawmakers -- 201 of 290 -- has requested that the agreement be submitted as a bill to be voted on and approved.