In a fiery address in Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of hypocrisy and deception over claims of seeking peace in the Middle East. Khamenei’s comments came just days after Trump made statements during a Gulf tour, suggesting that Iran must swiftly respond to a U.S. nuclear proposal—or face dire consequences.
Speaking at a religious center in the Iranian capital, Khamenei dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as dishonest and dangerous. “When Trump talks about peace, he’s lying,” Khamenei said. “This is the same man whose government hands over 10-ton bombs to the Zionist regime, which are then dropped on innocent children in Gaza.”
Khamenei’s remarks underscore deep tensions following Trump’s recent departure from the United Arab Emirates, where he warned that Iran needed to act quickly on a U.S. proposal regarding its nuclear program. “Something bad’s going to happen” if Iran delays, Trump said aboard Air Force One.
Khamenei responded bluntly: “His words aren’t even worth responding to. They are an embarrassment—not just for him, but for the American people.”
The Supreme Leader doubled down on his longstanding condemnation of Israel, calling it “a dangerous, deadly cancerous tumor that must be uprooted—and it will be uprooted.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Khamenei’s sentiments in a speech at a naval event in Tehran earlier the same day. He pointed out the contradiction in Trump’s statements. “On one hand, he talks about peace. On the other, he threatens us with the most advanced weapons of mass destruction. So, which are we supposed to believe?”
Despite the inflammatory rhetoric, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran remains committed to continuing nuclear negotiations with the U.S.—but not under threats. “We are not seeking war,” he declared. “But we will not be intimidated.”
Adding to the confusion, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi disputed Trump’s claim that Iran had received a nuclear proposal from the U.S. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Araqchi wrote, “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.”
He also criticized the U.S. for constantly shifting its stance in negotiations. “It’s unacceptable that America repeatedly redefines the framework for talks, dragging the process indefinitely,” he said on state television.
President Pezeshkian reinforced this position, saying Iran would not back down from its legal and peaceful rights. “They accuse us of destabilizing the region, simply because we refuse to bow to bullying,” he added.
The fourth round of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks recently concluded in Oman, but no date has been set for the next session. With both sides exchanging sharp words, the path forward remains uncertain—but tensions are undoubtedly rising.
