An Iranian senior cleric accused President Donald Trump of portraying himself as “a madman” to scare other countries, it was reported.

Ahmad Khatami, an Iranian hardliner, ruled out direct negotiations with the U.S. over the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear capabilities while saying indirect talks are ongoing under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s supervision, Newsweek reported.

Khatami accused Trump of psychological warfare, saying the president “portrays himself as a madman so that nations will fear him.”

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