US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will “absolutely” bomb Iran again if it pursues nuclear weapons, in response to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s claim that Iran won its recent 12-day war with Israel. Trump’s comments came after Khamenei said Iran “slapped America in the face” by launching missiles at a major US base in Qatar following US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump launched a scathing attack on Khamenei on his Truth Social platform, accusing him of “blatantly and foolishly” lying about Iran’s victory in the war. “His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED,” Trump said, adding that he knew exactly where Khamenei was sheltered and would not let Israel or the US Armed Forces terminate his life. However, a leaked intelligence report suggests that the US military strikes may have only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months.¹
The US president’s remarks came after a White House news conference where he was asked about potential new air strikes if the recent attacks had not succeeded in ending Iran’s nuclear weapons program. “Sure, without question, absolutely,” Trump replied. He emphasized the need for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another respected source to verify Iran’s nuclear activities.
However, Iran has approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, a move seen as a direct response to the strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran may reject any request by the agency for visits to Iranian nuclear sites, stating that “Iran reserves the right to take any steps in defence of its interests, its people and its sovereignty”. IAEA Director General Grossi has prioritized ensuring the resumption of inspections, which have been halted since Israel began bombing on June 13.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare an enforcement plan against Iran, which includes maintaining Israel’s air superiority, preventing nuclear advancement and missile production, and responding to Iran for supporting terrorist activities against Israel. Katz revealed that Israel had wanted to “eliminate” Khamenei and would not have required US permission to do so.