The story: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei says Iran should pursue the lifting of US sanctions but that it must also strive to make its economy resistant to foreign pressure and restrictions. His comments come as indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal remain at a standstill over US sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The coverage: In his traditional speech marking Nowruz—the Iranian New Year—Khamenei said in remarks carried by the state broadcaster that Iran’s economy had faced “challenges” in the past decade...