Iran's religious leader attacks U.S

The Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the United States of being controlled by Zionists intent on creating discord in Iran.

Speaking on the eve of Ramadan he said both the US government and Congress were under the spell of Zionism.

His remarks contrast with those earlier this month by President Khatami who offered to start a dialogue with what he called the great American people.

A BBC correspondent recently in Teheran says the speech by Ayatollah Khamenei has reinforced deep divisions between conservatives and reformers that have emerged in Iran since President Khatami's election in May.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service