Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed strong criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump during a public event in Tehran on Saturday. He accused Trump of having “lied” about his commitment to fostering peace in the Middle East, urging Washington to withdraw its presence from the region.
Khamenei’s remarks followed Trump’s recent four-day tour of Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which coincided with the commencement of a new military operation by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
“The recent remarks of the U.S. president during his visit to the region are a disgrace to the speaker and a disgrace to the American nation,” Khamenei stated.
During the event, Khamenei elaborated on his views, stating, “Trump said he wanted to use power for peace; he lied.” He accused the Trump administration of exploiting its influence to exacerbate violence, particularly in Gaza, and to fuel conflicts while backing their own affiliates.
Khamenei’s stance on Israel and U.S. involvement
Reiterating his long-standing threats against Israel, Khamenei referred to the country as “the Zionist regime,” labeling it a “dangerous and malignant cancerous tumor” within the region that must be eliminated. He declared, “The U.S. must and will leave this region,” reinforcing his position against American involvement in Middle Eastern affairs.
Despite ongoing hostile rhetoric from Iran towards the U.S. and its allies, discussions are currently underway between Tehran and Washington aimed at establishing a new agreement that would curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and avert potential large-scale conflict in the area.
Negotiations on Iran’s nuclear capabilities
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Khamenei, revealed in an interview with NBC this week that Iran is prepared to commit to never pursuing nuclear weapons. He outlined that Iran would eliminate its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, limit enrichment to levels necessary for civilian purposes, and permit international oversight in exchange for the lifting of all sanctions imposed on the nation.
However, Trump has made it clear that he aims to avoid negotiating a deal similar to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) established during Barack Obama’s presidency, which included the involvement of the European Union and China. Trump had withdrawn from the JCPOA in 2018, reinstating sanctions on Iran, which subsequently ceased its compliance with the agreement the following year.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, reaffirmed on Saturday that the country will not relinquish its right to a peaceful nuclear program while assuring a commitment to sincere negotiations with the U.S.