U.S. Backs ‘Dictators, Butchers, and Extremists’ in Middle East, Claims Iran, According to Reuters

Iran Rejects U.S. Accusations Amid Escalating Tensions

GENEVA (Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized the United States for supporting "dictators, butchers, and extremists" in the Middle East, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Wednesday.

Relations between Iran and the U.S. have deteriorated since Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear agreement last May and reinstated sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Zarif remarked in a Twitter post, "U.S. hostility has led it to support dictators, butchers, and extremists, who’ve only brought ruin to our region."

During his speech, Trump labeled Iran as "the world’s leading state sponsor of terror" and asserted that his administration had taken strong action to address its threats. He stated, "It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things," and emphasized that the U.S. will not ignore a regime that chants anti-American slogans and threatens Jewish people.

In response, Zarif noted that Iran, including its Jewish community, is preparing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. He stated, "Iranians—including our Jewish compatriots—are commemorating 40 years of progress despite U.S. pressure, just as Trump makes accusations against us."

Additionally, top Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have indicated that the nation is experiencing its most challenging economic conditions in four decades, attributing some of this hardship to U.S. sanctions.