Trump slams Ayatollah Khamenei’s lies, says Iran was 'beat to hell' in Israel war but was ‘saved' by US

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump ramped up his rhetoric against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, June 27, dismissing the cleric’s claim of victory in the recent conflict with Israel and warning of “absolute” further military action if Tehran resumes aggressive nuclear activity.

Appearing in the White House briefing room for a rare unscheduled appearance, Trump recounted a message he claimed to have delivered directly or indirectly to Khamenei, reports NY Post.

Donald Trump claims he 'saved' Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

“I said, ‘Look, you’re a man of great faith, a man who is highly respected in his country, you have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell.”

The president described the airstrikes, which destroyed three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend, as a decisive blow that left Iran “decimated” and the regime’s leadership “scrambling for cover.”

“The last thing they’re thinking about is nuclear weapons right now,” Trump told reporters, noting that US intelligence continues to monitor Iranian uranium enrichment closely. 

Trump didn’t mince words when asked about the possibility of further military action against Iran.

The press conference followed a Truth Social post in which Trump went further, declaring that Khamenei owes his survival to Trump’s intervention.

“As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie. His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the US Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” Trump wrote.

“I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’ In fact, in the final act of the War, I demanded that Israel bring back a very large group of planes, which were heading directly to Tehran, looking for a big day, perhaps the final knockout!,” the president wrote.

Trump elaborated on the situation, saying, “During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery. The sanctions are BITING!”

Ayatollah Khamenei declares Iran victorious in 12-day war with Israel

Ayatollah Khamenei broke his post-conflict silence on Thursday, June 26, with a defiant statement on social media, declaring Iran the victor of the 12-day war and claiming that America had been “slapped in the face” by a retaliatory rocket launch targeting a US military installation in Qatar.

“The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America’s face,” Khamenei wrote on X.

US officials say all 14 rockets were intercepted and note that Iran provided advance notice of the attack, suggesting it was symbolic at best.

Trump scoffed at the claim. “I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the US Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also added, “But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more. Iran has to get back into the World Order flow, or things will only get worse for them. They are always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them - A burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them.”