Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei maintained that “we tried to remove the sanctions through negotiations one time, but it was fruitless”, adding: “If we can overcome sanctions with diligence, creativity, resistance and endurance in the face of problems, and if the other side sees the futility of its sanctions, they will gradually stop imposing such sanctions”. Khamenei further argued that “the U.S.’s situation is not clear. And as for the Europeans, they are constantly taking a stand against Iran... We cannot trust foreign powers and pin our hopes on them”.