Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Barack Obama shortly before the US president was due to address the world’s Muslims that “beautiful” speeches alone could not remove the deep hatred felt in the Middle East towards the US.

”Sweet and beautiful talks to the Muslim nation cannot make a change,” said Ayatollah Khamenei at a gathering to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of the founder of the revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. “People in the Middle East over many years have seen violence, violation of their rights, military intervention and discrimination from the US,” he said.