Clinton says threats by Khamenei 'nothing new'

AFP - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday dismissed Iran's latest threats against Israel as "nothing new", insisting she would judge Tehran by its actions at upcoming nuclear talks.

"We look forward to what the Iranians actually bring to the table in Moscow," she said.

"We want to see a diplomatic resolution. We now have an opportunity to achieve it, and we hope it is an opportunity that's not lost, for everyone's sake," she told reporters in Stockholm.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cast a shadow over prospects of a resolution earlier Sunday with a fiery speech that threatened to respond "like thunder" to any Israeli aggression.

He also accused the West of lying about Iran's nuclear programme.

The tone of his speech contrasted with optimistic statements by senior Iranian officials earlier this week about their expectations for the June 18-19 talks in Moscow between Iran and the major world powers.

The United States and other western countries suspect Iran of working to acquire a nuclear weapons capability, but Tehran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes and within its rights.

Clinton said she had not had an opportunity to study Khamenei's speech, but suggested it was for domestic consumption, telling reporters, "I think there is nothing new in what you've just reported."

"The best way for Iran to fulfill their obligations and to dismiss the worries the rest of the world has about their intentions and actions is to come to the table in Moscow in two weeks and begin the serious work that needs to take place in order to reach a diplomatic resolution," she said.

"We hope they will come prepared to offer very specific actions they are willing to take," she said.