Iran’s Supreme Leader Slams Trump Following U.S. Strikes on Nuclear Facilities
By USA NEWS TODAY| June 26, 2025
In a fiery address broadcast across state media, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a sharp rebuke of former U.S. President Donald Trump just days after the United States launched airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
Speaking to a gathering of top clerics and military leaders in Tehran, Khamenei accused Trump of continuing a "legacy of aggression and lawlessness," blaming him for setting the stage for what he described as "reckless and provocative actions" by the United States. While current President Joe Biden has not publicly claimed responsibility for the recent strikes, Khamenei made it clear he sees Trump’s past decisions as the root cause of the ongoing tensions.
“Trump may no longer sit in the White House,” Khamenei said, “but his shadow still lingers over America’s destructive foreign policy. He turned diplomacy into a threat and negotiations into blackmail.”
Tensions Escalate After Strikes
The comments come on the heels of a series of U.S. airstrikes carried out earlier this week, targeting what Pentagon officials described as Iranian nuclear development sites suspected of violating uranium enrichment limits. The strikes mark a significant escalation in a region already teetering on the edge of conflict following the collapse of recent ceasefire talks between Iran and Israel.
Although the full extent of the damage remains unclear, Iranian state media claimed that civilian areas near Natanz and Isfahan were also affected, though this could not be independently verified. The Iranian government has vowed retaliation, warning that any further military action would be met with "a devastating response."
Trump’s Foreign Policy Legacy Under Scrutiny
Though Trump left office in 2021, his decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 continues to reverberate. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated under the Obama administration, had placed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump’s unilateral withdrawal, followed by reimposed sanctions and a “maximum pressure” campaign, led Iran to gradually resume enrichment activities.
Since then, Iran's nuclear program has steadily advanced, prompting mounting concern among Western and regional powers. The recent airstrikes mark a return to hardline military posturing that echoes Trump-era tactics—though under a different administration.
Iranian Leadership Calls for Unity, Resistance
Khamenei used the moment to rally national unity, calling on Iranians to remain vigilant and resist what he described as "foreign domination and Zionist-American conspiracies." He praised Iran’s military resilience and warned both the U.S. and Israel that “Iran will never bow to coercion, regardless of who is in power in Washington.”
“Whether it is Trump, Biden, or any other,” Khamenei said, “our answer is the same: Iran will stand strong.”
The Supreme Leader’s remarks have been widely broadcast across Iranian state television and social media channels, signaling a likely shift toward a more confrontational stance in the weeks to come.
What’s Next?
With tensions now running high in the Gulf, analysts warn that another flashpoint could push the region into broader conflict. The UN has called for restraint on both sides, urging a return to diplomatic talks to avoid further bloodshed.
So far, the Biden administration has not publicly addressed Khamenei’s latest speech, nor has it confirmed details of the recent military operation. Meanwhile, Trump—who remains active on his own media platform—has yet to respond directly to the Iranian leader’s remarks but has previously defended his Iran policies as “necessary to protect American and Israeli interests.”
As both rhetoric and military posturing intensify, the world watches closely—wondering whether another round of conflict in the Middle East is inevitable, or whether cooler heads will prevail.
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