Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has posted a tweet claiming that US President Donald Trump had allegedly sent a letter to Persian Gulf states blaming them for their lack of action in the region amid enormous American spending in the Middle East. The ayatollah didn't specify how the content of the letter wound up in Iran's hands, but several Western sources cited by the New York Times and Washington Post confirmed that the US President had sent a letter to certain Arab leaders.
A few days ago Trump wrote a letter to leaders of #PersianGulf states, which was revealed to us. He wrote: "I spent $7 trillion and you must do something in return." The U.S. wants to own humiliated slaves.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 9, 2018
Khamenei revealed additional details taken from the alleged letter to the US' Middle Eastern allies during his speech at Farhangian University on May 9.
"In the letter, he says I have spent $7 trillion on you, you have to do [what I say]. You spent this money to rule over Iraq and Syria. You couldn't. To hell with it," the ayatollah quoted the letter as saying.
The White House has not commented on the authenticity of the letter, with the National Security Council also declining to do so, the Washington Post reported. The New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the letter, that Trump actually sent it a couple of weeks ago and has since sent another, further confirming his stance that Gulf states should take on more of the burden in the region, including exercising pressure on Iran, constraining its influence there.
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Twitter users had various reactions to the ayatollah's tweet, with many doubting Trump's right to dictate to Arab states just because the US has spent so much money in the region, while others skeptical about the contents and the authenticity of the letter.
You do realize he pretty much has no idea what he's saying, right?
— jmr (@jmraykowski2) May 11, 2018
I mean… at all.
He just…. talks… and talks… well, you've surely seen it by now.
So, yeah…
(*shakes head*)
Dotard has no credibility or say what the region nations do. The Iraq thing was all on Cowboy Bush. If he doesn't want to pay anymore, he can leave.
— Jayson (@JaySmorez) May 10, 2018
To prevent being seen as a “humiliated slave” or a dictator, you must treat us equally. Send back the $7 trillion.
— Judith king (@KingBigredk) May 10, 2018
Show America the letter!! Facts not fiction
— April Robinson (@AprilRobinson26) May 10, 2018
The alleged letter sounds in tune with Trump's previous statements, where he has claimed that the US has already spent too much money in the Middle East and should let other countries participate in the processes in the region. He also noted that wealthy Arab states "wouldn't last a week" without US help and that they must "pay for what is happening."
