TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that American airstrikes in June had destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the remarks “improper, wrong, and bullying.”
In a statement published on his official website, Khamenei responded to Trump’s recent comments made during a speech at the Israeli Knesset and a televised interview, in which the U.S. president described the strikes as “the most beautiful military operation” and claimed they had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“The U.S. president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!” Khamenei said, questioning Washington’s authority to dictate nuclear policy to other nations.
The June strikes followed an unprecedented bombing campaign by Israel targeting Iranian infrastructure. The United States briefly joined the offensive, reportedly dropping 14 bombs on nuclear sites. Trump later asserted that the operation had neutralized Iran’s nuclear threat and diminished its regional influence.
However, the actual impact of the strikes remains unclear. While the Pentagon has stated that Iran’s nuclear program was delayed by one to two years, a classified intelligence assessment cited by American media suggested the setback may have lasted only a few months.
The military action occurred just days before a scheduled sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Talks, which began in April, have since stalled. Iran has conditioned its return to the table on U.S. guarantees against future military aggression.
Khamenei’s rebuke underscores the deepening rift between the two nations, as diplomatic efforts falter and tensions over nuclear development persist. The 2026 negotiations were seen as a critical juncture in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which unraveled following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.
