Iran’s supreme leader rejected U.S. overtures and dismissed Trump’s claim that U.S. strikes “destroyed” nuclear sites, with reports saying the June raids only briefly set back the program.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest proposal for talks, declaring that Tehran will not negotiate “under threats or coercion.”
His remarks also ridiculed Trump’s assertion that American airstrikes had destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, calling it “a dream that will never come true.”
Tehran’s Defiant Message
Khamenei told senior officials that Iran “will never yield under pressure,” warning that Washington’s “offers” were nothing more than “a demand for surrender.”
He added, “What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear facilities or not? These interventions are inappropriate, wrong, and coercive.” The supreme leader also mocked Trump’s claim of victory over Iran’s nuclear program, saying sarcastically, “Very well, keep dreaming.”
After the June Strikes
The exchange follows June’s 12-day U.S.–Israeli air campaign that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While Washington hailed it as a major success, satellite imagery and independent analysts indicate the raids only caused temporary setbacks.
Enrichment activities have since resumed at alternative sites, with Tehran insisting its program remains purely civilian.
Stalled Diplomacy and Shifting Alliances
Prior to the strikes, mediators oversaw five rounds of indirect U.S.–Iran contacts aimed at reviving a broader framework. Talks collapsed as tensions escalated, with Tehran declaring earlier restrictions void.
Regionally, Russia has expanded military cooperation with Iran, while Washington pushes for a new containment architecture involving Israel and Gulf states—reflecting a hardening divide as diplomacy falters.
