Egypt Daily News – President Donald Trump attacked Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a social media post on Friday, casting serious doubts over any potential diplomatic progress between the two countries. He reminded Khamenei that he had saved him from a “horrible and disgraceful death,” and said he abandoned the idea of lifting sanctions on Tehran after Khamenei declared victory.
Trump said he had considered lifting sanctions on Iran earlier in the week, but the Iranian leader’s statement claiming “victory” over Israel and vowing not to surrender to the U.S. made him abruptly change course.
Trump wrote:
“Over the past few days, I was working on possibly lifting sanctions and other measures, which would have given Iran a much better chance at full, fast, and comprehensive recovery, sanctions are painful! But instead, I received a statement filled with anger, hatred, and disgust, so I immediately stopped working on sanctions relief, and so on.”
The President also claimed he personally stopped Israel and U.S. forces from assassinating Khamenei. “I knew exactly where he was, and I didn’t allow Israel or the U.S. Armed Forces, the greatest and most powerful in the world to end his life. I saved him from a horrible and disgraceful death,” Trump said.
On Friday, Trump also said he would “definitely consider” striking Iran’s nuclear sites again if he deemed it necessary. When asked by reporters in the White House briefing room whether he would consider bombing Iran if future intelligence reports raised alarming conclusions about Iranian uranium enrichment, Trump replied: “Absolutely, without question, definitely and the strikes would have to be incredible.”
Trump added that he does not believe Iran is capable of “getting back to the nuclear program anytime soon,” following U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites late last week.
The administration continued to express confidence in the success of the strikes, though it did not provide intelligence to support Trump’s claim that the Iranian nuclear program had been, in his words, “wiped out.”
Trump also said Friday that he is “not really worried” about potential secret nuclear sites in Iran when asked about that possibility, pointing out that Tehran is currently more focused on survival.
“Let me tell you, they’re exhausted. And Israel is exhausted too. I dealt with both of them, and both wanted to settle things both of them and we did a great job. But they’re exhausted. The last thing they’re thinking about right now is nuclear weapons. You know what they’re thinking about? They’re thinking about tomorrow, trying to survive,” Trump added.
