Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei asserted that U.S. sanctions “appear to be against a political system, they are actually against a nation”. He argued that “their short-term goal is to make people tired. When people are tired and perplexed, they will stand up against the government… their mid-term goal in imposing sanctions is to prevent the country from progressing”. He went on to contend that “destroying the economy of the country is another goal”, adding that “they want to disconnect the relations between the Islamic Republic and the Resistance Forces in the region”. Khamenei also posited that President Trump “in mentioning negotiations with Iran… seeks personal benefits for elections, etc. Of course, the U.S. political system seeks to eliminate Iran's defence capabilities and regional authority using negotiations, which will definitely not happen”.