Hours before the United States re-imposes sanctions against Iran, President Hassan Rouhani dismissed President Donald Trump’s call for direct talks, saying it was only aimed at “domestic consumption in America ... and to create chaos in Iran.” He instead said that the US was isolated in the world and will regret imposing sanctions. "America will regret imposing sanctions on Iran ... They are already isolated in the world. They are imposing sanctions on Iranian children, patients and the nation," he declared in a televised speech. The United States aims to cripple Iran’s economy further with sanctions it is re-imposing this week, administration officials said on Monday, but Iran’s leader said economic pressure alone would not force Tehran to the negotiating table. “We are always in favor of diplomacy and talks ... But talks needs honesty ... The US reimposes sanctions and pulls out of the nuclear deal, and then wants to hold talks with us,” Rouhani continued. Iran’s rial currency has lost half its value since April under the threat of revived US sanctions. The currency’s collapse and soaring inflation have sparked sporadic demonstrations in Iran against profiteering and corruption, with many protesters chanting anti-government slogans. White House national security adviser John Bolton, who advocates a hard line against Iran, said on Monday Tehran should take up Trump’s offer for talks. “They could take up the president’s offer to negotiate with them, to give up their ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs fully and really verifiably,” Bolton told Fox News. “If the ayatollahs want to get out from under the squeeze, they should come and sit down. The pressure will not relent while the negotiations go on,” he said. The United States plans to re-introduce potentially more damaging sanctions on Iranian oil in November and wants as many countries as possible to cut their imports of Iranian oil to zero. The sanctions aim to modify Iran’s behavior and not bring about a “regime change” targeting Rouhani, US officials said on a conference call on Monday. They said the government’s handling of social and labor protests was a concern. Fear of sanctions and economic hardship have led to sporadic protests in several cities in recent days, with ordinary Iranians chanting slogans against Iranian leaders. One US official said the administration was deeply concerned about reports of violence against unarmed citizens. “The United States supports the Iranian people’s right to peacefully protest against corruption and oppression without fear of reprisal,” the official added. Trump warned on Monday of “severe consequences” for people or entities that fail to wind down economic activities with Iran. “The United States is fully committed to enforcing all of our sanctions, and we will work closely with nations conducting business with Iran to ensure complete compliance,” he said in a statement. The European Union vowed on Monday to counter the renewal of sanctions on Iran.