Kerry: Iranian Leader's 'Death to America' Speech 'Troubling'

The S.O.S. Discusses death threats as troubling?

In an interview Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said a recent speech by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei calling for "Death to America" and vowing to maintain anti-American policies was "very disturbing, very troubling."

"You heard 'Death to Israel,' 'Death to the U.S.' You could hear it. The whole nation was shaken by these slogans," said Khamenei in a speech broadcast live on Iranian television Saturday. "So we ask Almighty God to accept these prayers by the people of Iran,” assuring citizens that the regime's opposition to the "arrogant" U.S. "won't change at all":

KHAMENEI: The Islamic Republic of Iran will not give up support of its friends in the region — the oppressed people of Palestine, of Yemen, the Syrian and Iraqi governments, the oppressed people of Bahrain and sincere resistance fighters in Lebanon and Palestine… Our policy will not change with regards to the arrogant US government.

In an interview Tuesday with Saudi television network Al Arabiya, Kerry responded to Khamenei's "troubling" speech.

"I don't know how to interpret it at this point in time, except to take it at face value, that that's his policy," said Kerry. "But I do know that often comments are made publicly and things can evolve that are different," he said, attempting to insert some sense of optimism, but added, "If it is the policy, it's very disturbing, it's very troubling."

Kerry has been making the rounds to defend the deeply unpopular Iran nuclear deal that will almost immediately direct around $150 billion to Iran via lifted sanctions. Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, has consistently funneled money to terrorist groups in the region. Attempting to quell widespread concerns about how Iran will use the massive infusion of money, Kerry explained to Judy Woodruff on PBS News Hour that Iran wouldn't use the money for the sponsorship of terrorism because "they're not allowed to do that" according to the terms of the deal:

KERRY: They’re not allowed to do that outside even with this agreement. There's a UN resolution that specifically applies to them not being allowed to transfer to Hezbollah. They are specifically not allowed under another UN resolution to transfer to the Shi’a militia in Iraq.

Oh, because they are "not allowed to do that", we should rest easy?

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