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
-
Today's political cartoons - March 26, 2025
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - ice cold eggs, lax security, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The strange phenomenon of beard transplants
In The Spotlight Inquiries for the procedure have tripled since 2020, according to one clinician, as prospective patients reportedly seek a more 'masculine' look
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The fight for control of Ukraine's nuclear reactors
The Explainer How serious is Donald Trump about US ownership of Kyiv's nuclear power plants?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The El Salvador mega-prison at the centre of Trump's deportation scheme
The Explainer Invoking a 1798 law, the US president has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to high-security prison called 'black hole of human rights'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Romania's election chaos risks international fallout
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By barring far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from the country's upcoming electoral re-do, Romania places itself in the center of a broader struggle over European ultra-nationalism
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why is Netanyahu pushing into the West Bank now?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Israeli tanks have entered some Palestinian cities for the first time in decades. What's behind this latest assault on the occupied territory, and where could it lead if left unchecked?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Germany's conservatives win power amid far-right gains
Speed Read The party led by Friedrich Merz won the country's national election; the primary voter issues were the economy and immigration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published