Iran Supreme leader Khamenei: We successfully resisted U.S. sanctions

Iran has faced economic hardship since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009 (photo credit: REUTERS/CAREN FIROUZ)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009
(photo credit: REUTERS/CAREN FIROUZ)
GENEVA - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday in a new year speech broadcast on state TV that the Islamic Republic successfully resisted "unprecedented, strong" US sanctions.
Iran has faced economic hardship since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions.
Khamenei also said that economic hardship and the fall of the currency remain top problems and that the government should confront these issues by boosting production.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on the country's political factions to end infighting and unite against foreign enemies.
Hardliners in Iran have criticized Rouhani after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal, which Rouhani supported, and reimposed sanctions last year.
Rouhani defended his record in his new year speech, noting that economic problems are primarily caused by U.S. sanctions.