Leader: ‘Death to America’ means ‘Death to Trump’

TEHRAN — When Iran uses the slogan “Death to America,” the country’s supreme leader said on Friday, it is specifically wishing death on President Trump and two of his senior officials.

“’Death to America’ means death to Trump and John Bolton and Pompeo,” the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said, referring to John Bolton, the president’s national security adviser, and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state. “It means death to American leaders, who happen to be these people at this time,” he added.

Khamenei has reflected on the phrase repeatedly as Iran commemorates the 40th anniversary of its Islamic revolution, and engages in an increasingly bitter standoff with the Trump administration. The United States has withdrawn from a nuclear accord with Iran, reimposed economic sanctions on the country, and stepped up measures designed to pressure and perhaps to change its leadership.

“Death to America” would remain part of Iran’s official discourse, Khamenei’s website, Khamenei.ir, quoted him as saying on Monday, until the United States changed its “evil and mean” ways.

Pompeo has led efforts to increase pressure on Iran, and recently met with an opposition figure, Masih Alinejad. In 2017, before his appointment to the Trump administration, Bolton spoke to an armed Iranian opposition group and predicted that the Islamic republic would collapse.

President Hassan Rouhani said last week that the republic was facing its worst economic situation in its 40 years.

In the weeks preceding the anniversary, Iranian clerics, politicians and commanders have been renewing their rhetorical attacks against the United States.

Thomas Erdbrink is a New York Times writer.