Khamenei: Iran must look inward to address economy

Oct 12, 2020

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today the country would never retreat in the face of new sanctions. 

During a video speech delivered to a military university, Khamenei addressed the new US sanctions and the maximum pressure strategy, saying, “We will not ignore the role of the malicious Americans and their sanctions on the economy, which are certainly criminal.” He added that Iran will make them regret their maximum pressure. 

In response to US President Donald Trump boasting about the damage US sanctions have done to Iran’s economy, Khamenei said, “Taking pride in such crimes can only come from such a scoundrel as yourself.” He continued, saying that sanctions would be an “avenue to create a real economic resistance.”

Economic resistance is an idea pushed by Khamenei that promotes independence and self-sufficiency economically and in domestic production.  

Throwing cold water on the idea that Iran would negotiate, Khamenei said, “Even though many of our problems are related to outside of the country, the cure is domestic.” He added, “We must not search for the cure outside of the country because we do not see any good or interests and we must not allow the voices of the thugs who control the American nation to occupy anyone’s mind.”