A bitter war of words has erupted between Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and U.S. President Donald Trump, following the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Khamenei, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, accused Trump of “exaggerating to conceal the truth,” directly disputing the president’s claims that U.S. forces had “obliterated” key components of Iran’s nuclear program. The post also dismissed Trump’s earlier boast that he had personally spared Khamenei’s life during the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict.
Trump, for his part, responded on Truth Social, declaring that he is offering Iran “nothing” and is “not even talking” to Iranian leaders. His latest remarks signal a sharp hardening of America’s posture and raise concerns that hostilities could reignite.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The heated rhetoric follows a precarious ceasefire that ended a brief but intense war between Iran and Israel. The U.S., while not directly involved in combat, launched a series of targeted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—an unprecedented escalation in the region.
The extent of the damage remains under debate. While some American officials tout the strikes as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, others express skepticism. Iranian authorities have publicly downplayed the impact, though internal divisions about the true scale of the damage have surfaced.
What to Know.
Khamenei’s post, written in Farsi, was a direct rebuke of Trump’s earlier claims on social media. “Anyone hearing those remarks could sense that behind the surface, there was another reality,” the Supreme Leader wrote. “They failed to achieve anything and are exaggerating in order to conceal the truth.”
His message followed a defiant video statement in which Khamenei declared that Tehran had delivered a “severe slap” to the U.S. and claimed Israel would have been “completely destroyed” without American support.
Trump fired back, claiming he knew Khamenei’s precise location and halted operations that could have killed him. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that Khamenei didn’t need to say thank you—“but he should.”
The Nuclear Strikes Debate
At the heart of this standoff are U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites carried out during the Israel-Iran conflict. Trump has hailed the operations as devastatingly effective. But inside Washington, opinions vary. Some defense and intelligence officials believe the attacks inflicted lasting damage; others say Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains largely intact.
Iran, while officially minimizing the impact, has acknowledged some damage. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week that the airstrikes caused “serious harm” to several facilities, but stopped short of detailing the extent.
Trump Blames Obama
Trump has also reignited criticism of the Obama-era nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). On Monday, he lashed out at his predecessor, accusing President Obama of handing “billions” to Tehran as part of a “stupid road to a Nuclear Weapon.”
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018, calling it a “disaster” that empowered Iran’s regional and nuclear ambitions. His latest remarks make clear that he has no interest in returning to the negotiating table.
What People Are Saying
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (on X): “The U.S. president exaggerated what happened in an unusual way… They failed to achieve anything and are covering up the truth.”
- President Donald Trump (on Truth Social): “I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered… I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’”
What Happens Next
While the Israel-Iran ceasefire remains intact for now, the escalating rhetoric between Trump and Khamenei has injected new volatility into an already fragile situation. Diplomatic channels remain frozen, and uncertainty around the true impact of the strikes continues to cloud the path forward.
Without renewed talks or de-escalation, analysts warn that another round of conflict could be just one provocation away.
