Khamenei says US pushing 'Iranphobia' to block foreign investment
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the United States for removing the sanctions on paper but in effect scaring large banks from doing business with Iran.
During a speech April 27, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all foreign policy decisions, delivered one of his most critical assessments of what he considered US duplicity in removing sanctions on Iran post-nuclear deal.
“Sometimes the Americans complain from afar that why are you pessimistic toward us,” Khamenei said. “Well, the issues that cause pessimism, we see them and cannot close our eyes to them.” Referring to the remaining US banking sanctions that prohibit Iran from conducting business with other countries in US dollars, Khamenei said, “Why are the big banks not ready to work with Iran? The reason big banks are not ready to work with Iran is Iranphobia, which the Americans created and continue.”
