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Khamenei dismissed the letter as "part of their ploys and tricks," according to Iran's official state outlet, Press TV. The senators, who are highly critical of the deal being worked out, wrote the Islamic Republic to warn its leaders of Congress's role in approving and implementing any agreement.

Khamenei's comments came the day after Secretary of State John Kerry slammed the letter in a Senate hearing and said his reaction to it had been "utter disbelief." President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other senior administration figures have also taken strong exception to the GOP move.

Khomenei's barbs Thursday didn't stop with the GOP senators, however, as he also lashed out at the world powers -- Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, as well as the U.S. -- sitting across the negotiating table from Iran.

"Of course, I'm concerned because the other side is into deception, trickery and backstabbing," Khamenei said, according to Press TV.

Kerry, who has been heavily invested in the process and will meet with his Iranian counterpart next week as talks enter the homestretch ahead of the deadline for a framework agreement, defended the administration's negotiating efforts at Wednesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

He told the panel that the Republican letter was a breach of "more than two centuries of precedent" and factually incorrect.

"It purports to tell the world that if you want to have any confidence in your dealings with America, they have to negotiate with 535 members of Congress," Kerry said. "That is both untrue and a profoundly bad suggestion to make."

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut set Kerry up to address the letter, asking him to explain its impact, and Kerry took five minutes answering the question while glancing at what appeared to be prepared remarks.

READ: Hillary Clinton blasts Cotton Iran letter

As he wrapped up, Sen. Bob Corker, the committee chairman and author of legislation that would require Congress to approve any deal with Iran, cut Kerry off, ending what the senator called "a well-written speech."

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Kerry denounces GOP letter to Iran leaders - CNN.com

Story highlights Report: Iran's leader accuses world powers of "deception, trickery and backstabbing" in nuclear talks Ayatollah Khamenei also criticizes a letter sent by U.S. Republican senators to Iran

He also criticized a letter sent by 47 U.S. Republican senators to Iran's leaders, which threatened to scupper any deal if a Republican President is elected next year, Iran's official Press TV reported.

"Of course, I'm concerned because the other side is into deception, trickery and backstabbing," Khamenei is quoted as saying in a speech in Tehran.

He suggested that the letter was part of a U.S. strategy of last-minute reversal aimed at undermining a comprehensive deal covering Iran's nuclear ambitions, Press TV said.

"This is part of their ploys and tricks," said Khamenei.

Iran faces a March 24 deadline to reach a deal over its nuclear program. Several interim agreements have been made in recent months, though a long-term pact so far has been elusive.

The six world powers -- the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France, plus Germany, a group known as the P5+1 -- are seeking a deal that will ensure that Iran doesn't develop nuclear arms.

Officials in Tehran have publicly insisted they want a nuclear program for energy purposes, not to create atomic weaponry.

The Republican senators' decision to write to Iran's leaders has stirred up a political firestorm in the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry denounced the letter Wednesday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, calling it a breach of "more than two centuries of precedent" and factually incorrect.

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Iran attacks nuclear backstabbing

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's supreme leader said Thursday that a letter from Republican lawmakers warning that any nuclear deal could be scrapped by the next U.S. president is a sign of "disintegration" in Washington.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the letter a sign of "the collapse of political ethics and the U.S. system's internal disintegration," according to the official IRNA news agency. It was the first reaction to the letter by Khamenei, who has the final say over all major policies.

Khamenei said states typically remain loyal to their commitments even if governments change, "but American senators officially announced the commitment will be null and void after this government leaves office. Isn't this the ultimate degree of the collapse of political ethics and the U.S. system's internal disintegration?"

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The open letter from Republican Senators says, among other things, that while Iran can make a deal with President Obama they will ultimately have...

Khamenei said that whenever the talks approach a deadline, "the tone of the other party, particularly the Americans, becomes harsher, harder and more violent. This is part of their tricks and deceits."

However, he said, "Iranian officials know what they are doing."

Khamenei has generally supported the talks, but he frequently expresses doubt over the true intentions of the U.S. and other Western nations.

The supreme leader said a "Zionist clown" had delivered a speech in Washington, an apparent reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress earlier this month, in which he argued against the emerging agreement.

The U.S. and five world powers are negotiating with Iran to try and reach a framework agreement this month and a final accord in July which would curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

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Iran leader: GOP letter shows "disintegration" in D.C.

TEHRAN, Iran Irans supreme leader said Thursday that a letter from Republican lawmakers warning that any nuclear deal could be scrapped by the next U.S. president is a sign of disintegration in Washington.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the letter a sign of the collapse of political ethics and the U.S. systems internal disintegration, according to the official IRNA news agency. It was the first reaction to the letter by Khamenei, who has the final say over all major policies.

Khamenei said states typically remain loyal to their commitments even if governments change, but American senators officially announced the commitment will be null and void after this government leaves office. Isnt this the ultimate degree of the collapse of political ethics and the U.S. systems internal disintegration?

Khamenei said that whenever the talks approach a deadline, the tone of the other party, particularly the Americans, becomes harsher, harder and more violent. This is part of their tricks and deceits.

However, he said, Iranian officials know what they are doing.

Khamenei has generally supported the talks, but he frequently expresses doubt over the true intentions of the U.S. and other Western nations.

The supreme leader said a Zionist clown had delivered a speech in Washington, an apparent reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress earlier this month, in which he argued against the emerging agreement.

The U.S. and five world powers are negotiating with Iran to try and reach a framework agreement this month and a final accord in July which would curb Tehrans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Western nations have long suspected that Iran is covertly pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its program is entirely devoted to civilian applications.

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Iran supreme leader: Republicans letter a sign of US disintegration

VP Joe Biden slams Senate letter to Iran
A letter sent to Iran by 47 Republican senators has sparked a backlash from Democrats. The letter warned Iran that a nuclear deal may not last without congressional approval. But as Major Garrett...

By: CBS Evening News

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VP Joe Biden slams Senate letter to Iran - Video