Iranians chant ‘Death to America’ and threaten to hit back against Donald Trump after US unleashes its ‘toughest ever’ sanctions

IRANIANS have vowed to retaliate against sanctions re-imposed on the country by Donald Trump, as chants of “Death to America” rang out across the streets of the capital yesterday.

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani has promised to target core parts of the US economy, saying that Iran would “continue selling oil”.

Iranians were heard chanting "Death to America" as they took to the streets of Tehran for an anti-US rally — Iranians were heard chanting “Death to America” as they took to the streets of Tehran for an anti-US rally

The defiant clapback comes after the Trump administration restored all sanctions previously lifted by President Obama under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump’s decision effectively crumbled the goodwill between Iran and the rest of the world in a matter of seconds.

The move is set to hit oil exports, shipping and banks the hardest, and will make it near impossible for other nations to do business with the oil-rich nation.

The UK, Germany and France have all objected to the sanctions and have promised to help international businesses continue to do “legitimate business” with Iran.

Anti-American sentiment remains strong in Iran - four decades after the embassy siege of 1979 — Anti-American sentiment remains strong in Iran – four decades after the embassy siege of 1979

Iranians polish their shoes on a US flag as a mark of disrespect as news of re-imposed sanctions filtered through

News of the sanctions being slapped on Iran once again came as millions of Iranians took part in the annual anti-American demonstration in Tehran.

As the new sanctions against Iran were announced, chants of “Death to America” filled the air across the capital.

Addressing the large crowds at the rally, Iran’s military chief, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, issued a stark warning to Donald Trump.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari addressed crowds at the anti-US rally — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari addressed crowds at the anti-US rally

He said: “I want to say something to America and its weird president.

“Never threaten Iran, because we can still hear the horrified cries of your soldiers in the [desert]…

“And you know it better, how many of your old soldiers in American society commit suicide every day because of depression and fear that they suffered in battlefields.

“So, don’t threaten us militarily and don’t frighten us with military threats.”

The anniversary of the US embassy takeover fell hours before Trump voided a nuclear deal and restored all sanctions against Iran

Millions of Iranians took to the streets to mark the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran

Iran’s military has also confirmed it will hold air defence drills on today and tomorrow as part of efforts to prove the country’s capabilities.

Washington re-imposed the sanctions after Trump pulled out of a 2015 accord aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in May 2018.

The Trump administration claims it also wants to stop what it calls Tehran’s “malign” activities including cyber-attacks, ballistic missile tests, and support for violent extremist groups and militias in the Middle East.

Effigies of Donald Trump draped in an American flag were burned in Tehran yesterday

Thousands joined rallies carrying placards mocking Trump, wiping their feet on fake dollar bills and burning the US flag

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that more than 100 big international companies had withdrawn from Iran in recent weeks due to the looming sanctions, adding that Iran’s oil exports had already fallen by one million barrels a day.