President Donald Trump harshly criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and abandoned the idea of lifting sanctions against Iran.
He assured that he would consider bombing Iran again if Tehran enriches uranium to worrying levels, Reuters reports.
Trump reacted strongly to Ayatollah Khamenei's initial statements after the 12-day conflict with Israel, which ended after the United States launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend.
Khamenei stated that Iran "slapped America in the face" by attacking a key American base in Qatar after the US airstrikes last weekend. Khamenei also said that Iran will never surrender.
Trump said on Friday that he spared Khamenei's life. US officials told Reuters on June 15 that Trump opposed an Israeli plan to kill the Supreme Leader.
"His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear facilities were destroyed, and I knew exactly where he was hiding, and I did not allow Israel or the US Armed Forces, by far the biggest and most powerful in the world, to end his life," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"I saved him from a very ugly and shameful death," he added, in capital letters, as he usually does when he wants to emphasize an idea.
Not Giving Up on Sanctions
Trump revealed that in recent days, he had been working on the possible lifting of sanctions against Iran to give it a chance for quick recovery, but now, he claims, he has given up on this effort.
"I encountered a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust and immediately gave up all efforts to ease sanctions and more," he said.
During a press conference at the White House, he said he does not rule out the possibility of a new attack on Iran when asked about the possibility of new bombings on Iranian nuclear facilities if deemed necessary at some point. "Sure, undoubtedly, absolutely," he said.
Trump also stated that he would like the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another respected source to be able to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities after they were bombed last weekend.
He believes the targets were "destroyed" and rejected any suggestion that the damage to the targets was not as severe as claimed. However, Trump declared that he will support the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, to inspect the bombed targets.
The agency's chief, Rafael Grossi, stated on Wednesday that ensuring the resumption of IAEA inspections is his top priority, as no inspections have taken place since the Israeli bombings began on June 13.
However, the Iranian Parliament approved measures on Wednesday to suspend these inspections. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran will be able to reject any request from the agency's chief to visit Iranian nuclear facilities.
On the other hand, Trump also said on Friday that he does not believe Iran still wants to acquire nuclear weapons after the US and Israel's airstrikes. He described Iran as "exhausted."
The White House stated on Thursday that no meeting between the US and an Iranian delegation has been scheduled so far.