Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei took aim at the U.S. and former President Trump in a fiery speech Wednesday. Speaking from Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran, Khamenei mocked American demands that Iran halt uranium enrichment. “They cannot do a damn thing,” he declared.
Khamenei slammed U.S. attempts to dictate Iran’s nuclear future. “Who are you to decide?” he said. “Whether Iran enriches uranium or not — what does it have to do with you?”
His remarks followed a post from President Trump on Truth Social earlier this week. “WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!” Trump wrote, vowing to enforce strict terms in any future deal. The message came as Oman mediates talks for a possible agreement.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi doubled down later on X. “No enrichment, no deal,” he wrote. “No nuclear weapons, we have a deal.” He praised Iranian scientists for turning the nuclear dream into reality.
Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami echoed the hard line. He wrote to Khamenei promising to resist U.S. “excessive demands.” Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh mocked Israel’s threats.
“Israel does not have the power to threaten Iran,” Nasirzadeh said. “Those who can actually threaten don’t speak this way.” He claimed Iran’s strength keeps Israel at bay.
But Israel has already taken significant action. Last October, Israeli warplanes destroyed three of Iran’s Russian-made S-300 missile defense systems. The fourth had been wiped out five months earlier.
According to Israeli officials, “the majority of Iran’s air defense was taken out.” They also destroyed radar systems used to guide ballistic missiles. Just weeks earlier, Iran had launched 181 missiles at Israel.
Amos Hochstein, a former Biden advisor, confirmed the damage. “Iran is essentially naked,” he said, referring to the loss of its missile defenses. The tension in the region shows no signs of easing.