Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly dismissed assertions made by former US President Donald Trump regarding the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites. In a statement posted on his official website, Khamenei responded directly to Trump’s claims, urging him to “keep dreaming” about the purported obliteration of these critical facilities. He further questioned Trump’s authority to dictate terms regarding Iran’s nuclear development, highlighting the nation’s rights to maintain a nuclear industry.
The tensions surrounding this issue escalated following a remarkable bombing campaign by Israel against Iran in mid-June, which escalated when the US briefly participated by targeting key Iranian nuclear sites. During a recent speech at the Israeli Knesset, Trump reiterated his belief that the US had successfully “obliterated” these nuclear facilities, citing the deployment of 14 bombs on strategic locations.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump elaborated on his view, asserting that these military actions had effectively diminished Iran’s status as the “bully of the Middle East” and described the operation as “the most beautiful military operation.” Despite the strong rhetoric, the actual impact of the strikes is still unclear. The Pentagon has suggested that the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by one to two years, a claim that contradicts an initial US intelligence report suggesting only a minor setback of a few months.
In his response, Khamenei labeled Trump’s remarks as “improper, wrong, and bullying.” He pointed out the timing of the June military actions, which occurred just days before the planned resumption of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. These talks, which had begun in April, have since stalled. Iran has indicated that it is willing to return to negotiations but only if the US guarantees that no military action will occur.
