Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the controversial black nationalist, led “death to America” and “death to Israel” chants in Iran this weekend, prior to the imposition of sanctions on the country implemented today, reported the Algemeiner, a New-York based newspaper covering American and international Jewish and Israel-related news.

“I understand how the enemies have plotted against the Iranian people and I would like to stay alongside you to stop their plots,” said Farrakhan, according to the outlet’s coverage, as reported by Iran’s Mehr, a “semi-official state news agency.” (Shown above are President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during their meeting in Jerusalem May 22, 2017.)

The Mehr News Agency said Farrakhan met with Moshen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, in Tehran to “demonstrate real friendship with Iran.”

He “said that the Americans have always been plotting against Iran and are seeking to create an internal enemy in Iran” and “called the United States a big liar,” according to Mehr.

Farrakhan also issued a warning during the meeting, noted Mehr.

“Today, I warn the American government that sanctioning Iran is a big mistake,” he said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the reimposed sanctions by the United States as “the toughest sanctions ever placed against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He shared that sentiment in an interview with “Face the Nation” on CBS on Sunday morning.

The notoriously anti-Semitic figure led the loathsome chant at the University of Tehran law school.

Farrakhan was reportedly speaking to students there on women’s rights in Iran when he told them America was never a democracy.

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At the end of the talk, the Algemeiner explained, he led the chanting of such phrases as “death to Israel” and “death to America.” (Shown above

Video of the talk showing a smiling Farrakhan saying “death to Israel” in Farsi was shared by Twitter user Jerry Dunleavy and confirmed by New York Magazine’s Yashar Ali.

Late this summer, Farrakhan attended Aretha Franklin’s 8-hour funeral service at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan.

Standing on stage with him were former President Bill Clinton as well as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Farrakhan most recently made news for referring to Jewish people as “termites” during a speech he gave marking the 23rd anniversary of the Million Man March — but his history of racist rhetoric is long.

On election eve in America, Farrakhan’s shameful behavior led to a situation in which the phrase “death to America” was trending on Twitter.

Response on social media was, appropriately, swift and harsh.

And check out this video:

Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and regular contributor to LifeZette.