On June 14, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that if the next U.S. president tears up the nuclear deal, Iran will “set fire to it.” He appeared to be referencing remarks by presumptive Republican candidate for president, Donald J. Trump. “My number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran,” Trump said in March 2016.In an address marking the holy month of Ramadan, Khamenei also highlighted Iran’s compliance with the agreement while accusing the United States of not fulfilling all of its commitments. He told a told a group of high-ranking government and army officials that the United States has a hostile attitude toward Iran that cannot be changed through negotiations. The following are excerpts from his speech posted on his official Twitter account.
We don’t violate JCPOA, but if other side violates it, as US presidential candidates are threatening to tear it apart, we’ll set fire to it.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016
In #JCPOA other side’s duty was to remove sanctions which is not done, issue of banks is not solved, insurance of oil tankers is limited.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016
US didn’t fulfill key part of commitments; oil money isn’t paid to us, while we’ve done our part, 20% enrichment, Fordow & Arak are stopped.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016
U.S. hostility towards us is because of existence of the Islamic Republic & cannot be solved through negotiation.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016
Mr. @JZarif has said nature of US has not changed [after #JCPOA], and it is very true.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016
Essential policy of U.S. is to swallow world powers into the stomach of American policies.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 14, 2016