Iran's Supreme Leader Lashes Out at Trump

By Amir Daftari

News Reporter

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has delivered a stark rebuke of the Trump administration, declaring it "not worthy" of contact or cooperation with the Islamic Republic and firmly rejecting reports that Tehran had reached out to Washington.

"Such a government [the United States] is not worthy of being approached or cooperated with by a government like the Islamic Republic," Khamenei said in a televised speech Thursday night, dismissing claims that Iran had sent messages to the U.S. as a "total lie."

Newsweek has contacted the State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. following a brief but intense conflict with Israel in June. The 12-day war, which included U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, disrupted ongoing nuclear diplomacy and raised concerns about regional stability.

Years of economic sanctions, military posturing, and political disagreements have left U.S.-Iran relations strained, making negotiations over nuclear programs and broader security issues increasingly difficult. Khamenei’s speech reflects Iran’s determination to maintain a hard-line stance in response to these pressures while signaling resilience in the face of both military and diplomatic challenges.

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What To Know

Khamenei made clear that Iran would not pursue relations or cooperation with what he described as a "warmongering" U.S. government. He appeared to reject reports suggesting that a message sent earlier this month by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of the latter’s trip to the U.S. was intended for Washington, calling such claims a lie.

He emphasized that Tehran would not seek dialogue with an administration he considered untrustworthy and framed the U.S. as a destabilizing force in the region, criticizing American leadership for interventions that, in his view, result in war, destruction and displacement.

12-Day War

Khamenei also addressed the recent war between Israel and Iran in June, describing it as a failure for Israel and the U.S. in achieving their objectives. The conflict ended on June 24 with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, two days after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. He acknowledged Iran’s losses but stressed that "the one who started the attack suffered more losses than we did."

In October, Khamenei challenged claims that U.S. strikes had destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, telling President Donald Trump to "keep dreaming." While the Pentagon has estimated that the strikes delayed Iran’s nuclear development by one to two years, earlier reports suggested only a minor setback.

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U.S. Global Policies

Khamenei also condemned Washington’s role in global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war. He criticized Trump for failing to resolve the conflict as promised, saying nearly a year had passed since Trump returned to power and that the U.S. had merely imposed a "28-point plan" for a war he said it helped create.

"Wherever America intervenes, the result is warmongering, genocide, destruction, and displacement," Khamenei said, framing the U.S. as a global destabilizer.

What People Are Saying

Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday: "They are creating rumors that Iran sent a message to America through some country—that is a total lie."

President Donald Trump said last week: "Iran does want to make a deal. I think they very badly want to make a deal. I am totally open to it, and we're talking to them, and we start a process."

What Happens Next

Khamenei’s speech reinforces Iran’s rejection of engagement with the Trump administration, signaling that nuclear negotiations and regional diplomacy under current U.S. leadership are unlikely. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, has stated that the country remains open to fair and balanced negotiations, emphasizing that dialogue is possible under conditions that respect Iran’s sovereignty. At the same time, Tehran appears determined to bolster its military capabilities and consolidate domestic unity, sending a clear signal of strength to the region and the world.

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