US wants ‘regime change’ in Iran: Rouhani

TEHRAN: The United States is seeking "regime change" in Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday, adding that the current US administration is the most hostile that the Islamic Republic has faced in its four decades.

Tensions have increased between Iran and America after United States President Donald Trump withdrew from a multi-lateral agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme in May.

"In the past 40 years there has not been a more spiteful team than the current US government team toward Iran, Iranians and the Islamic Republic," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast on state TV.

"There was a time when there was one person who had enmity. The rest were moderate.

Now...the worst have gathered around each other," he added in a speech marking the beginning of the academic year at Tehran University.

Rouhani accused the Americans of using psychological and economic warfare and questioning the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.

"Reducing the legitimacy of the system is their final goal. When they say getting rid of, regime change in their own words, how does regime change happen? Through reducing legitimacy, otherwise a regime doesn’t change."

He used the English phrase "regime change" to emphasise his point. Washington reintroduced steps against Iran’s currency trade, metals and auto sectors in August.