Khamenei says US, Israel wage media war to discourage Iranians

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday accused the United States and Israel of waging a media war to discourage Iranians, state TV reported, as the country faces economic hardship after the reimposition of U.S. sanctions.

"The goal of this media war is to create anxiety ... and pessimism among people towards each other and the authorities, and to exaggerate economic problems in the minds of the public," the television quoted Khamenei as saying, blaming the United States, Israel, and the Gulf Arab states.