Iranian supreme leader backs Rouhani initiatives at UN

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Saturday endorsed the diplomatic efforts of President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly while terming the US "unreliable".

"We support the diplomatic initiative of the (Iranian) government, including its (diplomacy)in the New York visit, since we have trust in the government and are optimistic" about its policies, reported Xinhua citing Khamenei.

"However, some aspects of the New York visit was inappropriate," Khamenei told a military congregation, adding that "we consider the US government as unreliable, arrogant, illogical and the one who breaks its promises."

Khamenei did not elaborate on the "inappropriate" aspect of the president's visit to New York, but emphasised that "we are pessimistic towards the (restoration of relations) with the Americans" who have intimate relations with Israel.

The Iranian delegation held meetings with some western officials on the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly meet. They explained to these officials Iran's foreign policy to "constructively interact" with the world.

Rouhani also held a 15-minute telephonic talk with his US counterpart Barack Obama, the first such engagement between the heads of state of the two countries since the Tehran hostage crisis over three decades ago.