TEHRAN: Iran鈥檚 supreme leader chastised President Donald Trump on Wednesday over his decision to pull America out of the 2015 nuclear deal, while lawmakers lit a paper US flag on fire inside parliament, shouting, 鈥淒eath to America!鈥�
The government backlash reflected broad public anger in Iran over Trump鈥檚 decision, which threatens to destroy the landmark agreement. While Iranian officials, including the parliament speaker, say they hope Europe will work with them to preserve the deal, many are pessimistic.
In comments before school teachers, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Trump: 鈥淵ou cannot do a damn thing!鈥� The exhortation from Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, follows a pattern of Iranian leaders declaring their nation鈥檚 ability to resist foreign pressure or interference.
Khamenei described Trump鈥檚 speech Tuesday announcing his decision as having 鈥渙ver 10 lies,鈥� without elaborating on them. He also said Trump鈥檚 remarks threatened both Iran鈥檚 people and its theocratic government.
鈥淭he body of this man, Trump, will turn to ashes and become the food of the worms and ants, while the Islamic Republic continues to stand,鈥� Khamenei said.
Earlier Wednesday, the lawmakers, including a cleric, held the flaming flag alight as their colleagues joined their chants. They also burned a piece of paper representing the nuclear deal and stomped on the papers鈥� ashes.
While US flag-burning is common in Iran and harsh criticism of America has been a staple of Iranian parliamentary politics for years, it was the first time political observers could remember anything being burned inside the parliament itself.
The 2015 agreement imposed restrictions on Iran鈥檚 nuclear program in return for the lifting of most US and international sanctions.
However, the deal came with time limits and did not address Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile program or its support for militant groups across the region branded as terrorists by the West. Trump has repeatedly pointed to those omissions in referring to the accord as the 鈥渨orst deal ever.鈥� Proponents of the deal have said those time limits were meant to encourage more discussion with Iran in the future that could eventually address other concerns.
Late Tuesday night, President Hassan Rouhani said he鈥檇 be sending Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to the countries still in the deal 鈥� China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Iran hopes the European Union will pass laws to protect European firms from any potential US sanctions. EU officials have suggested they鈥檒l do what they can to salvage the agreement.
Still, Rouhani made a point of stressing that Iran, at any time, could resume its nuclear program.
鈥淚f necessary, we can begin our industrial enrichment without any limitations,鈥� the Iranian leader said. 鈥淯ntil implementation of this decision, we will wait for some weeks and will talk with our friends and allies and other signatories of the nuclear deal, who signed it and who will remain loyal to it. Everything depends on our national interests.鈥�
After the flag burning, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said responsibility for saving the deal fell on the EU and other world powers still in the accord.
鈥淭he period is only a window in which the EU can prove if it has enough weight for settling international issues,鈥� he said.
Larijani also urged the country鈥檚 nuclear agency to prepare for 鈥渞esumption of all aspects of nuclear activities.鈥�
Khamenei questioned whether Europe had the will or the ability to save the nuclear deal.
鈥淚 do not trust these three countries,鈥� he said, apparently referring to France, Germany and Britain. 鈥淚f you succeed in getting guarantees (from them), then, no problem, go ahead. If you cannot, then it is not possible to continue in this way.鈥�
Meanwhile, a prominent Iranian lawmaker said on Wednesday parliament is preparing to increase spending on the country鈥檚 ballistic missile program.
The head of Iran鈥檚 parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said: 鈥淲ith America鈥檚 decision, Iran鈥檚 missile program will not change at all.鈥�
One of Trump鈥檚 criticisms of the deal has been the fact it does not address Iran鈥檚 missile program.
Trump鈥檚 decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal is dominating newspaper front pages and discussions across Iran, with some saying the accord will go on 鈥渨ithout the troublemaker.鈥�
Iranian moderate newspapers on Wednesday sought to buoy embattled President Rouhani, with the daily newspaper Asr-e Eghtesad proclaiming: 鈥淚ran鈥檚 diplomacy has blunted Trump鈥檚 blade.鈥�
The state-run IRNA news agency referred to Trump as 鈥渢he troublemaker.鈥� Meanwhile, the hard-line daily Kayhan went with: 鈥淭rump tears apart the nuclear deal; It is time to set it afire!鈥�
Rouhani warned Tuesday that Iran could restart enriching uranium 鈥渨ithout any limitations鈥� within weeks, after 
Many Iranians are worried about what Trump鈥檚 decision could mean for their country.
The Iranian rial is already trading on the black market at 66,000 to the dollar, despite a government-set rate of 42,000 rials. Many say they have not seen any benefits from the nuclear deal.
Iran鈥檚 poor economy and unemployment sparked nationwide protests in December and January that saw at least 25 people killed and, reportedly, nearly 5,000 arrested.