Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized former President Donald Trump on Saturday for making misleading statements during his recent visit to the Gulf region, claiming that Trump’s assertion of wanting peace in the area was dishonest.
Khamenei alleged that the U.S. instead deploys its resources to supply “10-ton bombs to the Israeli regime” to harm innocent children in Gaza. Trump had previously warned that Iran needed to swiftly respond to a U.S. proposal regarding its nuclear program, or “something bad’s going to happen.”
Khamenei dismissed Trump’s comments as unworthy of a response, labeling them an “embarrassment to the speaker and to the American public.” He declared that the core issue of corruption, warfare, and discord in the region stems from the Israeli regime, which he described as a “harmful, malignant tumor that must be eliminated.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also weighed in, questioning Trump’s contradictory messages of peace while simultaneously issuing threats. “Which should we take seriously?” Pezeshkian asked during a naval event in Tehran. “On one hand, he talks about peace, while on the other, he threatens with advanced weapons of mass destruction.”
While Tehran is open to continuing negotiations regarding its nuclear program, Pezeshkian emphasized, “We are not looking for conflict.” He expressed that Iran will not yield its rights and criticized how America’s fluctuating positions hinder progress in nuclear discussions.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, pointed out that Iran has yet to receive any formal proposal from the U.S. regarding its nuclear efforts, insisting that there is no scenario in which Iran would surrender its right to uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. Araqchi noted that changing the negotiation framework repeatedly is unacceptable and prolongs talks.
Pezeshkian concluded by stating, “We will not be intimidated by bullying; this is why we are regarded as a source of instability in the region.” The latest round of discussions between Iran and the U.S. wrapped up in Oman last Sunday, with no upcoming meetings scheduled as of now.
