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Over the past 13 years, Iran鈥檚 nuclear program has caused long-term quarrels among the international community and resulted in severe economic pressures on Iran. But it also eventually led to direct negotiations between decades-long arch-foes: Iran and the United States.

Iran and six world powers reached a historic nuclear deal on July 14 after talks that spanned 20 months. The deal was received by the negotiators with .

In the wake of that momentous pact, leaders of both countries聽hinted that the deal could lead the two nations toward a more cooperative relationship.聽Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the agreement begins 鈥�.鈥� He added that if carried out correctly, 鈥渨e can gradually eliminate distrust.鈥澛燗nd President Obama noted: 鈥淭his deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction. We should seize it.鈥�

But on Saturday Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed that Iran鈥檚 policy toward the US will not change. 鈥淲e will have no negotiations with the US over bilateral, as well as regional and international issues. There are some exceptions like the nuclear program that has been previously going on as well,鈥� .

Speaking at a Tehran mosque to mark the end of holy fasting month of Ramadan, Ayatollah Khamenei once again thanked the Iranian negotiating team for the nuclear talks, but added that Iran has not bowed to US pressure.

Over the past decades, the Islamic Republic has always said that bilateral relations with the US were Iran鈥檚 鈥渞ed line" 鈥� a view of late that's mostly expressed by Iranian hardliners. Khamenei鈥檚 Saturday remarks are in line with that mindset. But amid such red-line rhetoric, there have been actions during the past two years that have blurred the 鈥渞ed line.鈥�

The Sept. 27, 2013 between Iranian President Rouhani and President Obama marked the start of direct talks, something that seemed impossible at one time.

And then came the nuclear talks, specifically the Nov. 24, 2013 interim nuclear deal. After the agreement was read, Iranian and American foreign ministers聽 for the first time in front of cameras.

After 20 months of direct negotiations, some in the US and Iran suggest that the fence mending may continue 鈥� even amid the hardline rhetoric. Such positions reflect the divisions within Iran's body politic 鈥� and a similar divide among US politicians.

On July 8, former Iranian president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, that the reopening of the US embassy in Tehran is 鈥渘ot possible,鈥� but added that 鈥渢hat depends on the behavior of both sides.鈥�

A close confidante of Khamenei, Rafsanjani also hailed Iran鈥檚 decision to negotiate directly with Washington. 鈥淲e have broken a taboo,鈥� he added.

Khamanei's statements Saturday, on the face of it, appear to be a rebuke to any further cooperation between the two nations. But the two nations have allied goals on several fronts 鈥� including battling the Islamic State 鈥� which may in fact led them to a more normal bilateral relationship.聽