Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed his confidence in President Hassan Rouhani Saturday, demanding tolerance from opponents who have criticised him over talks with world powers on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.
Khamenei spoke after days of public spats between Rouhani's government and hardline opponents and as Tehran held what it called a "satisfactory" round of talks with visiting UN inspectors.
The disputes have focused mostly on a deal struck with world powers in November that has put temporary curbs on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for modest sanctions relief and the return of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
Without touching directly on the nature of those disagreements, Khamenei said "critics must exercise tolerance when it comes to the government."
"It has only been a few months since the government has taken the reign," Khamenei told commanders of Iran's air force in remarks reported by one of his websites, leader.Ir.
