1. Iranian Leadership’s Strong Rebuttal to Trump’s Remarks
During his first major Middle East tour, US President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against Iran, labeling its leaders as “corrupt and ineffective.” In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s comments as beneath dignity, calling them a disgrace to both Trump and the American nation. Khamenei accused the US of supporting violence across the region and described Israel as a “dangerous cancerous tumour” that must be removed. Similarly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Trump for sending contradictory messages of peace while supporting what he described as Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. Other Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, criticized Trump’s statements as deceptive and delusional.
2. Trump’s Criticism of Iran’s Governance and Regional Policies
During his visit, Trump praised Arab leaders for their infrastructural development while condemning Iran’s government for corruption, mismanagement, and environmental degradation, highlighting the country’s ongoing power outages. He accused Tehran of fostering regional instability through its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which he blamed for “misery and death.” Additionally, Trump’s suggestion to rename the “Persian Gulf” as the “Arabian Gulf” sparked widespread anger within Iran, fueling criticism from citizens, authorities, and even some pro-Trump Iranians advocating for sanctions and regime change.
3. Ongoing Nuclear Negotiations and Persistent Tensions
Despite the heated exchanges, both Iran and the US express a preference for reaching an agreement to reduce tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. However, after four rounds of Oman-mediated negotiations, no formal written proposal has been presented. Iran insists on retaining its right to uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes, a position reaffirmed by senior negotiators who reject any halt to enrichment. Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal led to intensified sanctions and Iran increasing its uranium enrichment up to 60 percent, although it has yet to develop nuclear weapons.
