Iran's supreme leader denounced U.S. efforts to "hit the Islamic Republic" on Wednesday, saying Washington would ultimately fail "like the famous cat in Tom and Jerry."

"The U.S. has tried various political, economic, military and propaganda undertakings to hit the Islamic Republic," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, according to Bloomberg News.

"All these plots failed," he continued. "Like the famous cat in Tom and Jerry they will lose again."

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In the famous Hanna-Barbera cartoon, the cat, Tom, is routinely fooled — and often injured — in his pursuit of Jerry, the mouse.

Khamenei's comments came weeks after President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE announced that he would back out of the 2015 deal that sought to curb Iran's nuclear pursuits in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump has long railed against the deal, which he said bolstered Iran's nuclear ambitions while failing to address Tehran's other destabilizing activities.

On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE threatened to impose the strongest sanctions yet on Iran, and issued a list of demands, including that Tehran permanently end its nuclear program and cease its support for groups like Hezbollah, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.