Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that the United States destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In a sharp rebuke posted on his official website Monday, Khamenei told Trump to “keep dreaming” about such a claim, insisting that Iran’s nuclear program remains intact.
The fiery exchange follows Trump’s repeated boasts about a joint US-Israeli airstrike campaign in June that allegedly “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear installations.
Speaking before Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, Trump said, “We dropped 14 bombs on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, totally obliterating them.”
Trump added that the strikes marked “the most beautiful military operation,” claiming they ended Iran’s dominance in the Middle East.
In a follow-up interview with Fox News, he declared that Iran had “lost its bullying power” after the attack.
However, Iran’s leadership has strongly denied those claims. Khamenei accused Trump of spreading misinformation and questioned America’s right to dictate other nations’ nuclear ambitions.
“He [Trump] has no authority to decide what another country should or should not have,” Khamenei said.
“His words are improper, wrong, and bullying.”
Reports indicate that the June airstrikes, which Israel initiated and the US briefly joined, caused temporary damage to Iran’s nuclear sites.
Yet, the Pentagon later confirmed that the strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear progress by one to two years.
That estimate sharply contrasts with an earlier classified US intelligence report that suggested the disruption lasted only a few months.
The June offensive also came just two days before a planned sixth round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.
Those negotiations, which began in April, were immediately suspended after the attacks.
Iran has since said it will not return to the table unless Washington guarantees that no further military strikes will occur.
The country also reiterated that its nuclear program remains for peaceful purposes only.
International analysts warn that the exchange could further strain relations between Iran and the US, especially as the Middle East remains tense following recent Israel-Hamas confrontations.
Khamenei’s remarks signal Iran’s firm stance against US pressure and its determination to maintain its nuclear capabilities.
His statement also underlines Tehran’s growing frustration with Western narratives portraying Iran as militarily weakened.
As of Monday, neither the US State Department nor the Pentagon had issued an official response to Khamenei’s comments.