9 hours ago
Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 13:18 IST
Trump told Israel’s Knesset that the US had “obliterated” Iranian nuclear sites during joint strikes with Israel in June.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | AFP Image
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that American airstrikes had destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, telling him to “keep dreaming."
In a statement published on his official website, Khamenei questioned Trump’s authority “to say what a country should or should not have if it possesses a nuclear industry," calling the US leader’s remarks “improper, wrong, and bullying."
Last week, Trump told Israel’s Knesset that the US had “obliterated" Iranian nuclear sites during joint strikes with Israel in June.
“So we dropped 14 bombs on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, totally as I said originally obliterating them and that’s been confirmed," he said. In a separate Fox News interview, Trump described the operation as “the most beautiful military operation," claiming it ended Iran’s status as “the bully of the Middle East."
However, the actual extent of the damage remains unclear. The Pentagon later stated that the June strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by one to two years, contradicting an earlier classified intelligence report that estimated only a few months of disruption.
The US-Israel bombing campaign occurred just days before the sixth round of nuclear negotiations was set to resume between Washington and Tehran. Talks have since stalled, with Iran insisting it will only return to the table if the US guarantees it will refrain from future military action.
Tehran and Washington held five rounds of indirect nuclear talks, which ultimately collapsed after the 12-day air war in June, when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...
Read More
First Published:
October 21, 2025, 13:05 IST
News world ‘Keep Dreaming’: Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Rejects Trump’s Claim Of Destroying Nuclear Sites
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
