President Donald Trump has taken aim at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following Khamenei’s remarks about Iran’s supposed triumph over Israel in what he termed a “12-day war.”
In a post on True Social, Trump expressed disbelief at Khamenei’s claims of victory, questioning why he would “so blatantly and foolishly” declare such a thing when many view Iran’s statements as exaggerated. This comment came after Khamenei posted congratulatory messages on social media, asserting a victory over what he called the “false Zionist regime.”
Khamenei further stated that the “Zionist regime was effectively knocked out and crushed under the blow of the Islamic Republic.”
“Why does Ayatollah Khamenei, who’s leading a war-torn nation, insist he won against Israel when he knows that’s not true?” Trump questioned, asserting that, as a man of faith, Khamenei shouldn’t resort to falsehoods. He pointed out that Iran has faced significant destruction, including the loss of crucial nuclear sites, noting he was aware of these locations.
Trump mentioned that he had “saved” Khamenei from a potential disaster and remarked on a demand from Israel for the return of a large plane.
“He doesn’t need to express gratitude,” Trump said. “I insisted on Israel reclaiming a sizeable fleet of aircraft. Failure to do so would have led to tremendous destruction and numerous Iranian casualties, which would have marked the biggest strike of the conflict.”
“Recently, I’ve been considering options for easing sanctions, but I was met with hostility and hatred from Khamenei, which quickly shut down my efforts. Iran must align with global order,” Trump stated.
He described Iranian leadership as hostile and burnt out, emphasizing the country’s bleak future and failing economy.
“They appear perpetually angry and unhappy, with no clear path ahead. Their troops are depleted, and the economy is struggling,” Trump commented.
After a significant strike from the U.S., which targeted three key nuclear facilities in Iran—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—intelligence has suggested that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been impeded for years. According to reports, U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that new intelligence suggested a slowdown in Iran’s nuclear enrichment efforts.
The full scope of the damage is still being assessed, but heads of U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed that evidence points to a regression in Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that recent assessments also reflected significant setbacks for Iran.
Trump told reporters that Khamenei admitted Iran was “beaten to hell” and urged him to be truthful. He also remarked on Iran harbored interests in nuclear weaponry.
Previous reports suggested that amid this so-called “12-day war,” Iran has faced rampant internal issues, including mass arrests and public discontent.
