Global media reactions to the Supreme Leader’s remarks

In his speech on Monday during a meeting with hundreds of Iranian sports champions and winners of international science Olympiads, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that the United States had “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program and his rhetoric questioning Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy. His remarks were widely reported across international media.

Referring to Trump’s statements—where he boasted about bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities and claimed to have destroyed them—the Leader stated:

“It’s fine; keep imagining that. But who are you to decide what a country can or cannot have in its nuclear industry? What does it have to do with America whether Iran possesses nuclear capabilities or not? Such interference is inappropriate, wrong, and tyrannical.”

The British news agency Reuters wrote:

“Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, on Monday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to begin a new round of talks as well as his claim that the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

Reuters quoted the Supreme Leader as saying:

“The U.S. President proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Fine—keep thinking that way.”

The Russian outlet RT (Russia Today) also highlighted the Supreme Leader’s remarks, writing:

“Iran’s Leader says Trump did not destroy Iran’s nuclear program.”
RT further noted that Ayatollah Khamenei, responding to Trump’s claims about destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, said:

“Keep dreaming.”

The U.S. network Newsmax quoted the Leader as saying:

“The U.S. President proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Fine—keep imagining that!”

The news website Discover Course also reported on the remarks, writing:

“Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, explicitly rejected any claims that the United States had destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

The French news agency AFP reported:

“Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, on Monday dismissed Trump’s claim that the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying ‘keep imagining that,’ and questioned the U.S. President’s right to decide which countries may or may not have nuclear industries.”

According to AFP, the Supreme Leader described Trump’s comments as “inappropriate, wrong, and arrogant.”

The Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, quoting the Leader’s remarks in a post on social media platform X, wrote:

“Iran’s Supreme Leader mocked U.S. President Donald Trump after his claim that the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s nuclear program in its attacks, saying: ‘Keep imagining that.’”

The Supreme Leader’s remarks came a day after Trump had claimed that the United States, in its aggressive strikes in June, had destroyed Iran’s so-called “military nuclear program,” asserting that without that action, the Gaza ceasefire would not have been achieved.

These comments also drew extensive attention across Arab-language media.

The Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen, under the headline “Well, Stay in That Illusion,” wrote:

“The Leader of the Islamic Republic dismissed Washington’s claims about the ‘destruction of Iran’s nuclear industry’ as pure delusion and stressed that Iran will never surrender to pressure.”

The Lebanese outlets Al-Manar and Al-Ahed News reported:

“Ayatollah Khamenei described the United States as the ‘main partner in the Zionists’ crimes in Gaza’ and, referring to Trump’s claims about destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, said: ‘Fine, keep daydreaming!”

These networks emphasized that the Iranian Leader viewed Trump’s statements as an attempt to boost the morale of disheartened Zionists following their recent military defeat.

The Qatari network Al Jazeera also reported:

“Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that in the event of any new aggression, Iran would respond with its missiles.”

Quoting the Leader, Al Jazeera added:

“The enemy never expected Iranian missiles to strike sensitive Israeli centers.”

Yemeni media, including Al-Masirah TV and the SABA news agency, focused on the critical tone of the remarks, reporting:

“Ayatollah Khamenei accused Trump of ‘lying and arrogance,’ saying that the U.S. President seeks to boost the morale of demoralized Zionists through his false statements.”
These media outlets analyzed that Tehran views Washington’s psychological warfare as ineffective and emphasized Iran’s determination to resist pressure.

On the other hand, Saudi networks Al Arabiya and Al Hadath presented the story differently, reporting:

“Iran’s Leader, in response to Trump, said: ‘Who do you think you are in this world?’”
The two outlets described the remarks as a sign of “Iran’s direct challenge to the United States.”

The Iraqi network Al-Ahed quoted the Leader as saying:

“The missiles that reached deep into the enemy’s research centers were built by the hands of Iranian youth and were not purchased from anyone.”

The outlet noted that Ayatollah Khamenei’s words conveyed “a clear message of Iran’s indigenous deterrent capability.”

Finally, the London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported:

“Iran’s Leader challenged Trump, asking, ‘Who are you to dictate to an independent country?’”
The outlet highlighted the Leader’s pointed remark to Trump:

“You (Trump) are delusional about the destruction of Iran’s nuclear industry.”