President Donald Trump issued a blistering rebuke of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, announcing he had scrapped plans to ease sanctions on Tehran and warning that further U.S. military strikes remain on the table if Iran continues advancing its nuclear program.
Trump’s remarks came in response to Khamenei’s first public statement following the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which culminated in U.S. airstrikes last weekend on three major Iranian nuclear facilities. In his speech, Khamenei declared that Iran had “slapped America in the face” by launching a missile attack on a key U.S. base in Qatar following those strikes, and insisted that Iran would never surrender.
In a post on social media, Trump fired back by revealing he had stopped a plan to target Khamenei directly. U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month that Trump had blocked an Israeli proposal to assassinate the Iranian leader.
“His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered,” Trump wrote. “I would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces — by far the greatest and most powerful in the world — terminate his life. I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded early Saturday with a pointed message on X, saying Iran would only consider returning to nuclear negotiations if the U.S. changes its “disrespectful tone” toward the Supreme Leader.
“If President Trump truly wants a deal, he must stop insulting Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and show some respect for the millions who follow him,” Araqchi said.
Trump also confirmed that he had been weighing the removal of some sanctions to help Iran stabilize its economy after the strikes but reversed course after hearing Khamenei’s remarks.
“I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief,” he said.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump left the door open to further strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. When asked whether he would authorize another bombing campaign if Iran resumed high-level uranium enrichment, Trump said: “Sure, without question, absolutely.”
Trump also said he wants international inspectors, such as those from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to be allowed into the damaged nuclear sites to assess the impact of the U.S. strikes.
However, Iran’s parliament moved Wednesday to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA, and Araqchi suggested Friday that Tehran would likely reject any inspection requests. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has made restoring inspections in Iran his top priority, especially since the Israeli strikes began on June 13.
Despite the rising tensions, Trump said Iran still appears open to negotiations. “They want to talk,” he noted, though the White House confirmed that no formal meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials has been scheduled.
