Trump vs. Khamenei

On February 7, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced President Donald Trump in an address to air force commanders. He thanked Trump for revealing the “true face” of the United States. “What we have been saying, for over thirty years, about political, economic, moral, and social corruption within the U.S. ruling establishment, he came out and exposed during the election campaigns and after the elections,” said Khamenei. When asked about the supreme leader’s comments, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, “I think Iran is kidding itself if they do not realize that there’s a new president in town.” The following are excerpts from Khamenei’s speech, Iranian press coverage and the White House response.

 

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

 

 

“He [Obama] was the president who imposed paralyzing sanctions on the Iranian nation; of course, he did not achieve what he desired. No enemy can ever paralyze the Iranian nation.”

 

 

"Trump did it [revealed U.S. corruption] in a few days after coming to the White House; their claims to human rights are no longer tenable and had been belied by their own action to discredit hollow claims."

 

 

"We should thank late Imam [Ruhollah] Khomeini who had frequently been recommending against reliance on the Great Devil and its treacherous conduct; now the truth is before our eyes, bare and clear."

"Their claims to human rights are no longer tenable."

—Feb. 7, 2017, in an address to air force officers via Khamenei.ir, Mehr News and CNN

 

Iranian Press Coverage

 

Asr-e Iranian 

Asre Iranian Feb8.jpg

Supreme Leader in a meeting with Air Force Personnel

American human rights means handcuffing a 5 year-old kid

We will answer Trump on the 22nd of Bahman

Iranians are not afraid of threats

 

Abrar

Abrar Feb8.jpg

Supreme Leader:

No Enemy Can Paralyze the Nation of Iran

 

19 Dey

19 Dey Feb8.jpg

Supreme Leader: Mr. Newcomer exposed America’s corruption, thank you

The nation will answer Trump on 22 Bahman (February 10)

 

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer

 

“I think the … ayatollah is going to realize that there is a new president in office. This president is not going to sit by and let Iran flout its violations or its apparent violations to the joint agreement. But he will continue to take action as he sees fit. The president has also made clear time and time again that he’s not going to project what his action will be, and he will not take anything off the table. But I think Iran is kidding itself if they do not realize that there’s a new president in town.”

—Feb. 7, 2017, during a press briefing

 
Newspaper images via Iran Front Page.
 
Daniel Schnur, a research assistant at the U.S. Institute of Peace, contributed to this roundup. 
Some of the information in this article was originally published on February 7, 2017.