After dismissing new sanctions by the United States on the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani called the sanctions “outrageous and idiotic”.
He added that White House is ‘mentally retarded.’
In a speech broadcast live on state television on Tuesday, Rouhani said sanctions against Khamenei would fail because he had no assets abroad. Rouhani described the latest round of sanctions as a sign of US desperation.
“The White House actions mean it is mentally retarded,” he said.
“Tehran’s strategic patience does not mean we have fear,” Rouhani said.
Trump targeted Khamenei and other top Iranian officials with sanctions on Monday, to increase pressure on Iran after Tehran’s downing of an unmanned US drone last week.
The targets of the new sanctions include senior military figures in Iran, blocking their access to any financial assets under US jurisdiction. Washington said it will also impose sanctions on Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif this week.
“You sanction the foreign minister simultaneously with a request for talks,” Rouhani said and called the sanctions “outrageous and idiotic”.
