Iran Slams Trump Administration as 'First-Class Idiots,' Says Their Defeat Will Be 'Unprecedented'

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted the current leaders of the United States as "first-class idiots," warning that their defeat will be "unprecedented."

Speaking on Wednesday, Khamenei took aim at renewed sanctions implemented by President Donald Trump's administration after the president withdrew the U.S. from the international Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, last year. The Islamic Republic's top leader said that the punitive financial measures have taken a toll on his country.

"The sanctions do put pressure on the country and the people," Khamenei said, Reuters reported. "The Americans happily say that these sanctions are unprecedented in history. Yes, they're unprecedented. And the defeat that the Americans will face will be unprecedented, God willing," he added.

Criticizing the Trump administration's foreign policy toward Iran as irrational, he said: "They are first-class idiots."

The JCPOA was created during the administration of Trump's predecessor, President Barack Obama, and was also signed by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China. It aimed to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from international sanctions and a boom in investment. The United Nations's nuclear watchdog has consistently found that Tehran has fully complied with the terms of the deal.

However, Trump was a staunch critic of the agreement and formally withdrew the U.S. from it last May, moving to reintroduce sanctions during the summer. The White House has argued that the deal has allowed Iran to expand its influence and increase funding to militant groups throughout the Middle East, resulting in what they view as a threat to regional U.S. allies Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the Trump administration's opposition, the treaty's other signatories have sought to maintain the deal with Tehran. The European Union has even worked to set up a "special purpose" financial institution to circumvent Washington's sanctions and thus far, Iran remains in compliance. Nonetheless, the sanctions have taken a toll, leading Iran's economy to contract last year, with the International Monetary Fund predicting the trend will continue through 2019.

Due largely to growing financial concerns as well as opposition to conservative social policies, many Iranians took to the streets throughout 2018 to protest. Many have raised concerns about the government's regional ambitions as citizens struggle economically.

Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, a reformist politician in the Iranian parliament, warned this week that his country could face serious problems if the government does not curb "unnecessary expenses" incurred by its foreign policy. Pointing to the collapse of the Soviet Union as an example, he argued that Iranian leaders need to pay more attention to the concerns of the people.

"Today, people have difficulties making a living and feeding their children," he said. "If we fail to resolve the problem of unnecessary domestic and foreign expenditures, we will bear heavy costs."

Iranian leaders have said on several occasions that the Trump administration has reached out for discussions, but Khamenei has forbidden any dialogue.

"I ban holding any talks with America," the supreme leader said in August. "America never remains loyal to its promises in talks...just gives empty words," he added.