US created Islamic State, claims Iran's supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hits back at Donald Trump, saying Washington is against an independent Iran
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US of creating Islamic State and fuelling instability in the Middle East.
In a series of Twitter posts responding to Donald Trump's criticism of the country for "sponsoring terrorism", Khamenei wrote: "That US arms a terrorist group is what causes instability. Who created #ISIS? The US!"
He also told high-ranking Iranian officials that "America's claim of fighting against Islamic State is a lie", Reuters reports, while in an interview with Iranian media, he said the US regarded his country as an enemy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The American government is against an independent Iran," he told the semi-official Fars news agency, says The Independent. "They have problems with the existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran… Most of our problems with them cannot be resolved."
Trump has broken with his predecessor's attempts at rapprochement with Iran and made several direct verbal attacks on the country, telling it to stop training "terrorists and militias". Tehran has responded in kind.
The dispute adds to the tension in the region, which is in crisis after a Saudi Arabia-led coalition cut ties with Qatar, which has been accused of sponsoring terrorism in the region.
Qatari foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said yesterday the country had "no clue what are the main reasons behind all these measures".
In a show of support, Iran has sent food packages to the kingdom, says CNN.
Tehran also blamed Saudi Arabia for a terrorist attack in the city last week during which 17 people were killed. Riyadh denies the claim.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What Mike Huckabee means for US-Israel relations
In the Spotlight Some observers are worried that the conservative evangelical minister could be a destabilizing influence on an already volatile region
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Airplane food is reportedly getting much worse
Cockroaches and E. coli are among the recent problems encountered in the skies
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 19, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published