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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, launched a scathing attack on former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, accusing him of dishonesty and warmongering during his tour of the Gulf region earlier this week. Khamenei rejected Trump’s claims that the U.S. seeks peace in the Middle East, stating instead that Washington enables violence and fuels instability.
In remarks delivered at a religious event in Tehran, Khamenei said, “On the one hand, he [Trump] talks about peace, and on the other, he supports delivering 10-ton bombs to the Zionist regime to drop on the heads of Gaza’s children.” The comments referenced recent U.S. military aid to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed or displaced.
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Khamenei went on to describe Trump’s statements as “not even worth responding to,” calling them “an embarrassment to the speaker and to the American people.”
Iran Denounces Israel as Root of Regional Instability
The Supreme Leader also repeated Iran’s long-standing position on Israel, referring to it as a “dangerous, deadly cancerous tumour” that “must be uprooted.” He blamed the Israeli government for regional wars and instability, framing the conflict in Gaza as part of a broader pattern of aggression enabled by U.S. support.
Such inflammatory rhetoric is not new in Iran’s official discourse, but it comes at a particularly tense time, as indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme remain fragile and inconclusive.
President Pezeshkian Questions U.S. Intentions
Earlier the same day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also responded critically to Trump’s statements. Speaking at a naval event in Tehran, Pezeshkian questioned the sincerity of Trump’s peace narrative.
“Which should we believe?” he asked. “On the one hand, he speaks of peace and on the other, he threatens us with the most advanced tools of mass killing.”
Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is open to continuing nuclear negotiations with the United States but would not succumb to threats. “We are not seeking war,” he stated firmly. “But we will not back down from our legitimate rights.”
Conflicting Claims Over Nuclear Proposal
The war of words intensified following Trump’s claim aboard Air Force One that the U.S. had extended a new proposal to Iran regarding its nuclear programme. “Iran has to move quickly, or something bad’s going to happen,” he warned on Friday as he departed the United Arab Emirates.
However, Iranian officials swiftly denied that any such proposal had been received. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to [uranium] enrichment for peaceful purposes.”
Araqchi added that the ongoing shifts in the U.S. negotiation stance were contributing to delays in the diplomatic process. “It is absolutely unacceptable that America repeatedly defines a new framework for negotiations that prolongs the process,” he said in a televised statement.
Iran Stands Firm on Enrichment Rights
Throughout the weekend, Iran’s leadership remained unified in its defense of the country’s nuclear rights. Pezeshkian made clear that the Islamic Republic would not yield to international pressure, saying, “Because we refuse to bow to bullying, they say we are the source of instability in the region.”
Both Khamenei and Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s stance that its uranium enrichment programme is strictly for peaceful, civilian use, in line with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, skepticism remains among U.S. and Western officials, who continue to seek stronger guarantees from Tehran.
Future of Nuclear Talks Uncertain
Despite the combative rhetoric, diplomatic channels between the two countries remain open — albeit precariously. A fourth round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks ended last Sunday in Oman, but no new round has been scheduled, and there is little clarity on what the next steps will be.
With heightened tensions across the Middle East — especially in Gaza and Lebanon — the failure to make progress in the nuclear discussions could further destabilize the region. Analysts warn that without a renewed commitment from both sides to serious dialogue, the situation could spiral toward renewed confrontation.
