Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei – File Pic
Tehran- Iran’s supreme leader refused American assistance to fight the new coronavirus citing US animosity with the Iranian nation.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described the US “the most evil enemy of the Iranian nation”, saying the offer by the United States to help Iran fight the coronavirus outbreak is strange.
“Today, we have no less of enemies but the most evil enemy of the Iranian nation is America,” Iranian leader said in a televised address on Sunday.
US officials have refused to lift draconian sanctions which are hampering Iran’s efforts to contain the coronavirus. They have instead claimed readiness to aid Iranians, with President Donald Trump saying “all they have to do is ask”.
Iranian authorities have dismissed the offer as hypocritical, saying it makes no sense when Washington keeps on imposing new sanctions which have made Iran’s access to food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies impossible.
Ayatollah Khamenei called US officials deceitful, saying they were lying as he touched on speculations that the United States has manufactured the extremely contagious disease.
“Americans have said several times that ‘we are ready to help with treatment and medicine; just ask us and we will help’. This is one of the weirdest things which they tell us to ask them,” Iran leader said.
“Firstly, you have a shortage yourself and this is what American officials say. Secondly, you are accused of producing the virus. I do not know how true this accusation is, but when such an accusation is made, which wise person will ask for your help?” he added.
There is no scientific evidence yet to support Iran leaders claims.
However, his comments come after Chinese government spokesman earlier this month it “might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. “Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe[s] us an explanation!,” spokesman Lijian Zhao tweeted.
Ayatollah Khamenei called, American officials as “mendacious, deceitful, shameless and greedy. They are all kinds of charlatans who speak like charlatans. They are cruel, merciless, and terrorist.”
Iran leader also claimed, “part of this virus is said to have been made for Iran by using genetic backgrounds which they have collected from Iranians, which of course is part of their hostility”.
Iran is the most-affected country in the Middle East with over 1,685 coronavirus deaths and 21,638 infected people.
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