Khamenei Dares Trump, Warns US Military Can Be “Struck Hard” as Nuclear Talks Resume
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Tuesday issued a direct challenge to US President Donald Trump, declaring that Washington would never be able to “eliminate” the Islamic Republic and warning that even the world’s most powerful military could be dealt a devastating blow.
The remarks came as US and Iranian officials began indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, aimed at easing tensions that have sharply escalated in recent months.
Khamenei’s Warning
In a series of posts on X, Khamenei responded to repeated assertions by Trump about America’s military strength.
“The US President keeps saying they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again,” he wrote.
Referring to American naval deployments near Iran, he added: “A warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”
Khamenei also addressed Trump’s comment that the United States had failed to topple Iran’s ruling system for nearly five decades. “That is a good confession,” he said. “I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this.’”
Trump Signals Pressure, But Leaves Door Open
A day earlier, Trump said he would be involved “indirectly” in the Geneva negotiations and hinted that Tehran may now be more willing to compromise.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump said, referencing previous US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. “We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s. I hope they’re going to be more reasonable.”
The United States has since deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, with officials indicating that military options remain on the table if diplomacy collapses. Washington has insisted that Iran must forgo uranium enrichment on its soil — a demand Tehran has repeatedly rejected.
Iran maintains that zero enrichment is unacceptable and says it is willing to discuss limits on its nuclear programme only in exchange for sanctions relief.
Fresh Talks in Geneva
The new round of talks is being mediated by Oman and is aimed at preventing further escalation. According to Reuters, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to participate, alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Araqchi said he was in Geneva to “achieve a fair and equitable deal,” stressing that “submission before threats” was not an option. Tehran has also ruled out expanding negotiations to cover its missile programme.
On Monday, Araqchi met the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, signalling continued engagement with global nuclear monitors.
Strait of Hormuz Drills Raise Stakes
Amid the diplomatic push, Iran has intensified military activity in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
State-linked Fars News reported that parts of the strait would be temporarily closed during a military exercise dubbed “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz.” The drills are being conducted by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the supervision of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Iranian state media said the exercises are intended to assess operational readiness, review security plans and rehearse responses to potential threats in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Comments are closed.