Khamenei urges officials to tackle economic issues amid U.S. sanctions

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranian officials to join efforts to counter the negative impacts of "brutal American sanctions" against the Iranian nation, state TV reported on Thursday.

Khamenei underlined the need for unity among the government and other Iranian institutions to step up efforts towards dealing with the economic challenges currently facing the nation.

Khamenei made the remarks on Wednesday night in a meeting with the heads of Iran's executive, legislative and judicial branches over economic woes.

"There is no deadlock and no irresolvable problem in the country," Khamenei said, stressing that the country "will definitely overcome the internal (economic) difficulties."

"The soaring prices and the drop of purchasing power of those lower-income Iranians have put pressure on them," Khamenei was quoted as saying.

"To solve certain key economic issues, including those gripping the banking system, liquidity, unemployment, inflation and the budget planning process, you need to take decisive and practical decisions," he said.

The Iranian leader called on the authorities to find wise solutions to the existing hardships and to frustrate the United States in its attempts to use sanctions as a tool to influence the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 8 his withdrawal from the Iranian 2015 international nuclear deal (known as JCPOA) and vowed to return harshest sanctions in history against Iran.

The first round of renewed U.S. sanctions, imposed on August 7, prohibits Iran from the purchase of U.S. dollar and precious metals, part of a larger move that attempts to cut the country off from the international financial system.

A second tranche of U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports and gas sector are set to go into effect on Nov. 4.