‘Disrespectful, unacceptable’: Iran fires back at Trump’s threats

Iran has hit back at the US President’s claims that he saved Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from an ‘ugly and ignominious death’.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House. Picture: AFP

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned the “disrespectful and unacceptable” comments from Donald Trump, after the US President claimed to have saved Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from an “ugly and ignominious death” and declared he would order more bombing if the country tried to pursue nuclear weapons.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Picture: AP

“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt supporters,” Araghchi posted on his account on social media platform X.

“The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to ‘Daddy’ to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults,” the foreign minister said.

The complexity and tenacity of Iranians is famously known in our magnificent carpets, woven through countless hours of hard work and patience. But as a people, our basic premise is very simple and straightforward: we know our worth, value our independence, and never allow anyone…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 27, 2025

The United States carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend, with no consensus as to how effective they were.

With those strikes, Washington joined Israel’s bombardments of Iran’s nuclear programme in the 12-day conflict launched on June 13.

The Foreign Minister’s condemnation on Saturday came after Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he had saved the Iranian leader from assassination, accusing Khamenei of ingratitude.

“I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” Trump posted.

“I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’” Trump also said that he had been working in recent days on the possible removal of sanctions against Iran, one of Tehran’s main demands.

“But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,” Trump added, exhorting Iran to return to the negotiating table.

Asked earlier in a White House press conference whether he would consider fresh air strikes if last week’s sorties were not successful in ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump said: “Sure. Without question. Absolutely.” Trump added that Khamenei and Iran “got beat to hell”.

Iran has denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States, after Trump said that negotiations would begin again next week.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei