In a televised speech on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei taunted the United States and the Trump administration over its demand that Iran stop enriching uranium, declaring, “The first word of the US is that Iran should not have a nuclear industry and should rely on the United States. Our response to the US nonsense is clear: they cannot do a damn thing in this matter.”
Khamenei spoke at the mausoleum of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran on the 36th anniversary of his death.
On Monday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from ‘enriching.’ Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!”
“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have an enrichment?” Khamenei jeered.
The Trump administration’s proposal for a nuclear deal was presented by Oman, which is acting as a mediator.
“Why are you interfering?” Khamenei said to the United States. “Whether Iran enriches uranium or not — what does it have to do with you? Who are you?”
Later on Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed on X, “There is no scenario in which we will give up on the patriots who made our dream come true. No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal.”
Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, wrote to Khamenei, “I assure [you] that… we will stand against the excessive demands of the United States and other hegemonic powers.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, mocked Israel on Wednesday, saying, “Israel does not have the power to threaten Iran. Iran’s strength prevents them from doing so. Those who can actually threaten don’t speak this way. They are incapable.”
Last October, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran that destroyed three of Iran’s Russian-made S-300 missile defense systems. Israel had wiped out the fourth five months before, in April 2024. “The majority of Iran’s air defense was taken out,” a senior Israeli official told Fox News. Amos Hochstein, Middle East advisor to former President Joe Biden, admitted, “Iran is essentially naked” without a missile defense.
In the same airstrike, Israeli warplanes also destroyed radar systems Iran used to guide ballistic missiles. Roughly three weeks before, Iran had fired 181 ballistic missiles at Israel.