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Ahead of scheduled talks this week between Iranian, United Nations, and Western officials to further diplomatic negotiations about Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assailed the West's supposed double standard with regard to self-defense.

"They expect us to limit our missile program while they constantly threaten Iran with military action," he said, adding that it was a "stupid, idiotic expectation."

Iran and Western powers are to meet Tuesday to discuss the next steps in the ongoing negotiations aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Though missile proliferation is not exactly a part of those discussions, Khamenei's remarks underscore the distrust between the two sides that has made progress to this point slow and halting.