Saved Khamenei from ugly dying, says Trump; warns additional assaults by U.S. or Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (June 27, 2025) scoffed at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s heated warning to the U.S. to not launch future strikes on Iran, in addition to the Iranian supreme chief’s assertion that Tehran “received the struggle” with Israel.

Mr. Trump, in remarks to reporters and later in an prolonged assertion on social media, stated Khamenei’s feedback defied actuality after 12 days of Israeli strikes and the U.S. bombardment of three key nuclear websites inflicted extreme harm on the nation’s nuclear programme. The President urged Mr. Khamenei’s feedback have been unbecoming of Iran’s strongest political and non secular determine.

“Look, you’re a person of nice religion. A person who’s extremely revered in his nation. You need to inform the reality,” Mr. Trump stated of Mr. Khamenei. “You bought beat to hell.”

The U.S. President spoke out a day after Mr. Khamenei insisted Tehran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by hanging a U.S. air base in Qatar and warned towards additional assaults by the U.S. or Israel on Iran. Mr. Khamenei’s pre-recorded assertion, which aired on Iranian state tv, was the primary time that Iranians had heard straight from the supreme chief in days.

The heated rhetoric from Mr. Trump and Mr. Khamenei continued as each leaders face tough questions in regards to the affect of the strikes.

Mr. Trump and his aides have pushed again vociferously after an early harm evaluation from the Protection Intelligence Company grew to become public and indicated that the U.S. bombardment possible solely set again Tehran’s nuclear programme by months.

Eighty-six-year-old Khamenei, probably the most highly effective determine in Iran’s theocracy, in the meantime, has appeared intent on demonstrating his authority and vigour amid hypothesis about his well being and the way concerned he was in making Iran’s wartime choices by the 12-day battle.

In a social media publish Friday (June 27, 2025), Mr. Trump additionally appeared to consult with a plan introduced to the White Home by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities within the first days of the Israel-Iran battle to attempt to kill Mr. Khamenei. Mr. Trump vetoed that plan, in response to a U.S. official who was not authorised to remark publicly and spoke on the situation of anonymity.

“His Nation was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Websites have been Obliterated, and I knew precisely the place he was sheltered and wouldn’t let Israel or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the best and strongest on this planet, terminate his life,” Mr. Trump posted on Fact Social.

“I saved him from a really ugly and ignominious dying, and he doesn’t should say, ‘Thanks, President Trump!’ ” wrote Mr. Trump, after the U.S. airstrikes, sending warnings by way of social media to Mr. Khamenei that the U.S. knew the place he was however had no plans to kill him, “a minimum of for now.”

Editorial | Strategic misfire: On the Israel-Iran battle

After launching the U.S. strikes — together with with U.S.-made bunker-buster bombs — Mr. Trump has been insistent that Iran’s nuclear websites have been “obliterated”. Administration officers haven’t disputed the contents of the DIA report however have sought to deal with a CIA assertion and different intelligence assessments, together with these out of Iran and Israel, that stated the strikes severely broken the nuclear websites and rendered an enrichment facility inoperable.

Mr. Trump additionally stated that he expects Iran to open itself to worldwide inspection to confirm it doesn’t restart its nuclear programme.

Requested if he would demand throughout anticipated talks with Iran that the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) or another organisation be authorised to conduct inspections, Mr. Trump informed reporters the Islamic Republic must cooperate with the IAEA “or someone that we respect, together with ourselves.”

White Home officers have stated they count on to restart talks quickly with Iran, although nothing has been scheduled. U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this week stated there was direct and oblique communication between the international locations. A sixth spherical of US-Iran negotiations was scheduled for earlier this month in Oman however was cancelled after Israel attacked Iran.

Mr. Trump expressed confidence that Iran’s nuclear ambition has light.

“Can I let you know, they’re exhausted. And Israel’s exhausted, too,” Mr. Trump stated. He added, “The very last thing they’re pondering proper now’s nuclear.”