Hassan Rouhani's New York diplomacy 'not proper' says Iran's Supreme Leader "Of course in our view parts the New York trip were not proper, yet we are optimistic about our dear government's diplomatic envoy, but pessimistic about the US government," said Ayatollah Khamenei during an official speech at an Iranian university on Saturday. The commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Mohammed Ali Jafari, said on Monday that the president "should have refused" to accept the phone call with Mr Obama. Gen Jafari, a close ally of Ayatollah Khamenei, is unlikely to have made this intervention without his approval. Nonetheless, the Supreme Leader made clear his backing for Mr Rouhani's "diplomatic measures and for diplomacy." With the exception noted above, Ayatollah Khamenei said that he supported "what occurred in the government's recent trip" to New York. But he also denounced America, saying the US administration was "untrustworthy, self-important and breaks its promises." He added: "The US government is a government captured by the Zionist international network and has to appease the occupying regime [Israel] and show flexibility for the sake of the Zionists." Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the "disgusting" threats of military action against Iran, saying: "Our response to any evil against the Iranian nation will be severe and heavy." His words helped to illustrate the political tightrope that Mr Rouhani is walking. The president must settle the nuclear issue on terms acceptable not only to America but also the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Khamenei is believed to have imposed a time-limit on Mr Rouhani's efforts to reach a deal that would ease the burden of sanctions on Iran's economy. But the Supreme Leader also has the power to renounce the president's efforts.