Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday stressed that his country will never be “deceived” by U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for negotiations, saying that Tehran will not abandon its missile program.

“The U.S. president recently said Iran can achieve development with its current leaders. That means they do not seek regime change ... But this political trick will not deceive Iranian officials and the Iranian nation,” Reuters quoted Khamenei as saying in a speech delivered at a ceremony marking the 30th death anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

“In the missile program, they know we have reached a point of deterrence and stability. They want to deprive us from it, but they will never succeed,” he added.