During a speech April 27, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all foreign policy decisions, delivered one of his most critical assessments of what he considered US duplicity in removing sanctions on Iran post-nuclear deal.

“Sometimes the Americans complain from afar that why are you pessimistic toward us,” Khamenei said. “Well, the issues that cause pessimism, we see them and cannot close our eyes to them.” Referring to the remaining US banking sanctions that prohibit Iran from conducting business with other countries in US dollars, Khamenei said, “Why are the big banks not ready to work with Iran? The reason big banks are not ready to work with Iran is Iranphobia, which the Americans created and continue.”

Khamenei said that on paper the United States claims banks can conduct business with Iran but in reality different steps are taken that create Iranphobia. As an example, Khamenei said, “The Americans say that Iran is a state sponsor of terror and because of their support of terrorism they may be sanctioned.” Khamenei asked, “What message does this send to banks and foreigners? It sends the message to not conduct trade with Iran. As a result, the banks and foreign investors become fearful of cooperating with Iran.”

On April 22, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States was trying to clear up uncertainty for businesses outside of the country that wish to invest in Iran. He added that the United States was not opposed to foreign banks dealing with Iran. However, since the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers was implemented in January, many European and Asian companies have been advised to “steer clear of all transactions with Iran for fear of undermining American sanctions.” While the European Union removed most sanctions on Iran, the United States kept its own non-nuclear sanctions in place.