Iran's Supreme Leader: The U.S. Won't Bring Us to Our Knees

Iran’s Supreme Leader accused the U.S. and its Western allies on Tuesday of trying “to bring Iran to its knees” in nuclear negotiations, but insisted they failed in that effort.

"On the nuclear issue, the United States and European colonialist countries gathered and applied their entire efforts to bring the Islamic Republic to its knees but they could not and they will not," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said to a group of clerics, the Associated Press reported.

The sentiment was also posted on the English-language Twitter account Iran experts believe is run by Khamenei’s office.

In the #nuclear issue, arrogants have made their best to bring #Iran to its knees but they were not able and will not be able to do so.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 25, 2014

It was Khamenei’s first public reaction to the failure of negotiators Monday to reach an agreement over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, deciding to extend talks by seven months.

Reuters noted the supreme leader’s use of the word “arrogants” and explained, “The term arrogants, or arrogant powers, is used in Iran to refer to the United States and its Western and Israeli allies.”

Khamenei also blasted the U.S. over its airstrikes on Islamic State group targets and accused the U.S. of fueling Muslim rivalries.

US-led coalition against #ISIS is a blatant lie. By the means of ISIS, US wants to keep the war among #Muslims alive. pic.twitter.com/QU1wMbuF7F

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 25, 2014

The AP reported that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday in an address to the nation said Iran “has achieved a significant victory” and that “negotiations will lead to a deal, sooner or later.”

"Our nuclear rights should be admitted by the world," Rouhani said.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.