The United States played down Thursday the impact of Iran's presidential election on Tehran's nuclear standoff with the West, saying it hopes talks on the issue will resume regardless of who wins.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was ultimately in charge of the Islamic republic's policy on the thorny issue.
"When it comes to policy, and especially on the issues that are a source of great disagreement between Iran on one hand and the rest of the world virtually on the other, ultimate authority... rests with the Supreme Leader," he said.
"We remain hopeful that Iranian authorities will be ready to engage in serious negotiations with the P5+1 regardless of the outcome of the elections," he said, referring to the six countries talking to Tehran.
Some 50 million Iranian voters go to the polls Friday to elect a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeatedly has clashed with the West on the nuclear issue. Reformers hope for a good showing for moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was ultimately in charge of the Islamic republic's policy on the thorny issue.
"When it comes to policy, and especially on the issues that are a source of great disagreement between Iran on one hand and the rest of the world virtually on the other, ultimate authority... rests with the Supreme Leader," he said.
"We remain hopeful that Iranian authorities will be ready to engage in serious negotiations with the P5+1 regardless of the outcome of the elections," he said, referring to the six countries talking to Tehran.
Some 50 million Iranian voters go to the polls Friday to elect a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeatedly has clashed with the West on the nuclear issue. Reformers hope for a good showing for moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani.
