Tasnim � Iranian Police Commander Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari described Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei�s refusal to respond to US President Donald Trump�s message as a source of pride for Iran.

Speaking at a ceremony to introduce the new police commander of the western province of Kermanshah on Sunday, Brigadier General Ashtari praised Ayatollah Khamenei�s remarks in a recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tehran.

The Leader�s (refusal to respond) to Trump (which was conveyed) through the Japanese prime minister boosted the dignity and power of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he stressed.

Whenever the Iranian nation resisted, it emerged victorious, the commander said, adding that the country's dignity has its roots in the resistance of Iran�s �honorable� nation.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Shinzo Abe held a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran on Thursday morning.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Japanese prime minister said he intended to relay a message to Iran from Trump.

In response, Ayatollah Khamenei told Abe, �We have no doubts about your goodwill and seriousness, but with regard to what you relayed from the US president, I see no merit in Trump as a person to deserve the exchange of any messages, and I do not have any answer for him and will not give him any either.�

As regards the Japanese premier�s comments about Trump�s assertion that Washington does not seek a regime change in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran�s problem with the US does not relate to the issue of regime change, although the US would never achieve such an objective even if it wanted to.

�Trump�s claim that he does not intend to change the regime (in Iran) is a lie, because he would do this if he were able to, but he can�t,� Ayatollah Khamenei underlined.

On the Japanese leader�s message that the US has called for nuclear negotiations with Iran, the Leader said the US once reneged on an agreement that was reached after five to six years of negotiations with the US and Europeans. �So, which wise man would negotiate again with a country that has broken all agreements?�

In response to the Japanese leader�s comments that the US is resolved to prevent Iran from producing nukes, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined, �We are opposed to nuclear weapons and my religious fatwa is that production of nuclear weapons is haram (forbidden), but be mindful that if we ever intended to produce nuclear weapons, the US would not be able to do anything, and the American rejection would not pose any obstacle.�

Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed that the US which has a stockpile of thousands of nuclear warheads is in no position to comment about nuclear weapons in other countries.

In response to Abe�s comments that the US is ready for genuine talks with Iran, the Leader said, �We do not believe it at all, because sincere negotiations would not come from an individual like Trump.�

�Sincerity is very rare among the American officials,� the Leader stated.