Ayatollah Khamenei slams Trump's 'gangster and cowboy' speech

Tehran, Sep 21 (IANS)    On Thursday, Iran´s supreme leader lashed out against US President Donald Trump describing the speech he delivered at the UN this week as full of "gangster and cowboy" rhetoric.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has censured Trump's latest hostile comments against the Iranian nation at the UN General Assembly.

Khamenei made the comments in a meeting with members of Iran's Assembly of Experts in Tehran, Press TV reported.

The statements by the US President did not bring any pride to the American nation, said Ayatollah Khamenei. "The American elite should be ashamed of having such a President."

"That foolish, extremely ugly and hideous speech by the US President, with its gangster and cowboy language fraught with sheer lies, stems from their fury, frustration and light-headedness," he said.

Khamenei said that Washington's anger is also rooted in its failure to advance its agenda in the West Asia region, where Iran has played an influential, dignified and successful role.

"The presence and influence of Iran caused the plots and intentions of the US and the Zionist regime (of Israel) to fail in the region, and that is the reason for their anger," he added. 

The Americans have over the past many years pursued a "New Middle East" and "Greater Middle East" plan for West Asia, with its focus on Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"But they faced defeat in all the three countries," he said.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of engaging in "destabilizing activities" in the region. He claimed that Iran's "support for terror is in stark contrast to the recent commitments of many of its neighbours to fight terrorism and halt its financing."