Iran: President-Elect Raisi Says Ballistic Program Non-Negotiable, But Restoring Ties With Riyadh Possible

Iran’s President-Elect Ebrahim Raisi staked out a hard-line position on Monday in his first remarks since his election victory, rejecting the possibility of meeting with Joe Biden. And while saying his foreign policy priority would be improving ties with Iran’s Gulf neighbors, the hard-line cleric also said   he is not willing to negotiate over Tehran’s ballistic missiles or support for regional militia. Gulf states have said it would be dangerous to separate the nuclear pact from Tehran’s missile program and “destabilizing” behavior in the Middle East. The comments by Raisi offered a blunt preview of how Iran might deal…