Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the Iranian nation will not retreat in the face of "cruel" US sanctions and "insults", days after Washington imposed sanctions on him and other top officials in the country.
"The most vicious officials of the (US) government accuse Iran and insult it. The Iranian nation will not give in and retreat in the face of such insults," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website.
Khamenei also said that the offer by the United States to negotiate with Iran is a deception.
US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to hold talks with the Islamic Republic.
"Negotiations are a deception for what they want. A weapon is in your hands and they don't dare come close. They say drop the weapon so I can do whatever I want with you. This is negotiation," Khamenei said in remarks on his official website.