Khamenei sets key Iran policy

By Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will decide on Iran's nuclear program and relations with the United States, irrespective of who wins this month's presidential election, a senior official said Monday.

Hoping to win votes from both reformers and conservatives, rivals of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuse the hardline president of isolating Iran with his fierce attacks on Washington and combative line on Iran's nuclear policy.

Presidential media adviser Mehdi Kalhor told Reuters that only Khamenei, Iran's most powerful figure, could decide on such major policies, suggesting they would not change even if a moderate were to win the June 12 vote.

"No one but the leader can decide about any move to renew ties with America and Iran's nuclear work," Kalhor said in an interview in his modest downtown office. "Such issues cannot be traded by any president."

Kalhor, sporting a pony-tail, said it was Khamenei who ordered the removal of U.N. seals at Iran's Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in 2005, a step that led to the resumption of disputed uranium enrichment in 2006.

"No president can adopt a softer approach towards the West than (former president Mohammad) Khatami. The removal of seals took place under his presidency," Kalhor said. "Because it was the leader's decision, not Khatami's."

Khatami, whose policy has always been one of detente with the world, backs the candidacy of moderate former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who analysts say poses the main challenge to Ahmadinejad.

Mousavi says he will continue talks with major powers on the nuclear issue if he is elected president -- contradicting Ahmadinejad, who has ruled out any nuclear talks with the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain.