The United States is seeking regime change in Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday in a speech broadcast on state TV.
The United States is using psychological and economic warfare and questioning the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic to pursue regime change in Iran, Rouhani said in a speech commemorating the beginning of the academic year at Tehran University.
"Reducing the legitimacy of the system is their final goal. When they say getting rid of, regime change in their own words, how does regime change happen? Through reducing legitimacy, otherwise a regime doesn't change," Rouhani said.
Tensions have ramped up between Iran and America after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from a multi-lateral agreement on Iran's nuclear program in May and reimposed sanctions in August.
The United States is planning on imposing additional sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector in November.
IRAN'S PRESIDENT SEEKS TO DOWNPLAY US OIL SANCTIONS
Iran's president is trying to downplay U.S. sanctions targeting the country's vital oil and gas sector that are set to be imposed next month.
Rouhani says the Nov. 4 sanctions "will have no effect" because "the U.S. has already done whatever it wanted to do."
President Donald Trump's administration has been steadily restoring sanctions on Iran since he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord in May. Iran has been grappling with an economic crisis in recent months, with its currency plunging to historic lows and sporadic protests breaking out.
The U.S. has said it will press other countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, which would cut off a key source of revenue for Tehran.
Rouhani says Iran will overcome the sanctions through "unity and integrity."
