Iran compares Trump to Saddam Hussein as new sanctions go into effect

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday slammed the Trump administration's decision to re-impose sanctions on his country previously removed by the nuclear deal from which President Trump has withdrawn the United States.

"We are in the war situation," Rouhani said of the sanctions, which took effect Monday. "We are in the economic war situation. We are confronting a bullying enemy. We have to stand to win."

He went on to compare the circumstances to what Iran faced in the 1980s in conflict with neighboring Iraq, then under the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. "Yesterday, Saddam was in front us; today Trump is front of us," Rouhani said. "There is no difference. We must resist and win."

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Iran on Friday reached out to several European countries to seek their continued support, and the European signatories of the Iran deal released a statement condemning the sanctions decision.