Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei sharply criticized the United States for its interventionist stance on Iran’s nuclear program, asserting that Washington has no authority to decide whether Iran should possess nuclear capabilities. Addressing a group of Iranian young medalists in sports and scientific Olympiads on Monday, Ayatollah Khamenei responded to US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Washington could “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear facilities in airstrikes during the 12-day Zionist war of aggression in June.
“Keep dreaming,” the Leader said. “But who are you to set dos and don’ts for a country simply because it possesses a nuclear industry? What does it have to do with the United States whether Iran has nuclear capabilities or not? Such interference is inappropriate, wrong, and bullying.” He described Trump’s rhetoric as arrogant and baseless, adding that it was aimed at “boosting the morale of the Zionists and making himself look powerful through lies about Iran, the region, and its people.”
