Iran supreme leader says EU sanctions foolish

Iran’s top leader said Wednesday that European countries are “foolish” to support sanctions against Tehran, telling them they are sacrificing themselves for the sake of the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Speaking a week after a dramatic decline in the value of the Iranian rial, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei admitted that the economic measures taken by the West against Iran for its controversial nuclear program have caused problems, but said the Islamic Republic will overcome the difficulties.

The EU imposed an oil embargo against Iran in July, adding to US-led sanctions that also prohibit the world’s banks from completing oil transactions with Iranian banks and further complicate Iran’s ability to conduct international commerce.

“They are sacrificing themselves for the sake of America and it’s foolish,” he told a crowd in the northeastern city of Bojnourd in a speech broadcast on state TV. “This (sanctions) is a war against a nation. Of course, with the grace of God, they will be defeated by the Iranian nation in this war.”

The sanctions have been imposed over Iran’s refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials for use in a warhead.

The US and its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied the charges, saying its program is peaceful and geared towards generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.