Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared that the Trump administration has "clearly revealed the ugly face of the U.S." He added that "the U.S.'s plot is to create problems, conflict and internal war inside our country by means of sanctions and security-disturbing measures. They have done their utmost". Khamenei went on to advise that "the Iranian nation should maintain their awareness. When the U.S. says in 2018 they will do this or that, it could be a deceitful plot. They might want to stir controversy in 2018 while their actual plots are for 2019. You should be completely ready and alerted".