"We want to have friendly relations with all nations, even the United States," he told an audience of Basij militiamen. "We are not hostile to the American nation. They are like other nations in the world," he said.
"Death to America," the militiamen chanted in response.
Earlier, China's president told his Iranian counterpart to seize the opportunity to improve relations with world powers, as diplomats hope to clinch a preliminary deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in charged talks resuming in Geneva on Wednesday.
In turn, British Prime Minister David Cameron contacted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the first such conversation between the leaders of the two countries in more than a decade.
Cameron's office said the leaders agreed during their telephone conversation that significant progress had been made in recent talks and that it was important to "seize the opportunity" in this week's new negotiations. This as the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the remaining differences between Iran and world powers over a potential deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program are narrow and a historic deal is within reach. "The differences that remain between the parties are narrow and I believe they can be bridged with political will and commitment," Hague told a news conference in Istanbul. "It is the best chance for a long time to make progress on one of the gravest problems in foreign policy."
In the run-up to the new talks, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani conceded a longstanding demand that Iran's right to enrich uranium must be recognized in any deal, and that incited opposition from hardliners in the his country. REUTERS