Iran's Raisi backs nuclear talks, rules out meeting Biden

President-elect will snub US counterpart even if sanctions are lifted

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Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a news conference in Tehran on June 21.  © Reuters

DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi on Monday backed talks between Iran and six world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal but flatly rejected meeting U.S. President Joe Biden, even if Washington removed all sanctions.

In his first news conference since winning Friday's presidential election, the hardline judge said his foreign policy priority would be improving ties with Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours, while calling on Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia to immediately halt its intervention in Yemen.

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