WASHINGTON,— U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei over recent statements following the end of a brief but intense confrontation in the Middle East.
Trump announced that the United States will no longer consider lifting sanctions on Iran and warned that military action remains an option.
Khamenei’s remarks came after U.S. forces bombed several Iranian nuclear sites last weekend.
Speaking days later, the Iranian leader said his country had “slapped America in the face” by launching retaliatory attacks on a U.S. military base in Qatar.
Trump, in a post on social media, said he had prevented Israeli forces from carrying out a strike to kill Khamenei. “His country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered,” Trump wrote. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”
U.S. officials told Reuters on June 15 that Israel had proposed targeting the supreme leader, but Trump rejected the plan.
Iran responded by tying any possible agreement on its nuclear program to the tone of U.S. statements toward Khamenei.
In a statement on X, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.”
Trump said he had previously been considering lifting sanctions to allow Iran an economic recovery, but that changed after Khamenei’s reaction.
“I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief,” he said at a White House briefing.
Asked if military strikes were still an option, Trump answered: “Sure, without question, absolutely.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not conducted inspections in Iran since Israeli strikes began on June 13. Rafael Grossi, head of the agency, said this week that restarting those inspections is a top priority.
However, Iran’s parliament passed measures on Wednesday to halt any such inspections, and Araqchi suggested Friday that Iran may reject Grossi’s requests for site visits.
According to the White House, Iran has expressed interest in renewed talks. But U.S. officials confirmed on Thursday that no meetings with Iranian representatives are currently scheduled.
(With files from Reuters)
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