Tehran, November 25 (KCNA) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a speech broadcast live on state television on Wednesday denounced European countries that are tightening sanctions on Iran as puppets of a U.S. master.

The United States, Britain and Canada announced new sanctions on Iran's energy and financial sectors on Monday and the European Union followed suit the next day in a concerted effort to pressure Tehran to halt its nuclear program.

We are surprised by these European puppets, who immediately repeat whatever their master says like impotent servants, he said.

We had no relationship with them yesterday and won't have tomorrow, he noted.