Iran on Tuesday sharply criticized new U.S. sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic's supreme leader and other top officials, saying the measures spell the 'permanent closure' for diplomacy between the two nations.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attends a meeting with Health Ministry officials in Tehran on June 25.
President Hassan Rouhani went on to call the sanctions against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei"outrageous and idiotic," especially as the 80-year-old Shiite cleric has no plans to ever travel to the United States. But the comments from Tehran clearly showed its leaders think otherwise at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over its nuclear program and Iran's downing of a U.S. military surveillance drone last week.
The crisis gripping the Middle East is rooted in Trump withdrawing the U.S. a year ago from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal and imposing crippling new sanctions on Tehran. Recently, Iran quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium to be on pace to break one of the deal's terms by next week while also threatening to raise enrichment closer to weapons-grade levels on July 7 — if Europe doesn't offer a new deal.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iran calls new US sanctions 'outrageous and idiotic'President Trump's sanctions deny Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and senior Iranian military figures access to financial resources and block their access to any financial assets they have under US jurisdiction.
Read more »
Iran says 'hilarious' U.S. sanctions spell the end of diplomacyIran has slammed the Trump administration over new U.S. sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, saying the measures spell 'permanent closure' of diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.
Read more »
Iran says U.S. cyber attacks fail, hints at possible talksIran said on Monday U.S. cyber attacks on its military had been a failure, while...
Read more »
Pompeo discusses Iran with Gulf allies amid escalating crisisU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed Iran and maritime security with ri...
Read more »