US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will strike Iran again if it restarts its nuclear weapons program. The statement came amid rising tensions following a recent 12-day Israeli bombing campaign that killed dozens of Iran’s top military and nuclear officials.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of ingratitude, claiming he personally stopped an assassination attempt on the Iranian leader.
“I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel or the U.S. Armed Forces… terminate his life,” Trump posted. “I SAVED HIM… and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’”
Trump also revealed he had been working on lifting sanctions against Tehran but halted efforts after Khamenei responded with defiance, downplaying damage to nuclear facilities and declaring Iran had delivered a “slap” to the U.S.
“If intelligence shows Iran enriching uranium to military-grade levels, we will bomb again — without question,” Trump stated during a White House press briefing.
Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons and has rejected any plans to resume talks with the U.S. Despite Trump’s claims of upcoming negotiations, Tehran also denied allowing inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to assess damaged facilities, accusing its director, Rafael Grossi, of bias.
The tensions come as Iran prepares for a massive state funeral in Tehran. Sixty top scientists and military commanders, including women and children, are to be buried following the recent Israeli strikes. Among the dead are key figures such as Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, who was killed alongside his wife and daughter.
The war has left deep scars on Iran’s capital, which has not seen such violence since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Israel targeted residential areas in its campaign to eliminate high-value military targets. Iran’s retaliatory strikes reportedly killed 28 people in Israel.
Khamenei made his first public appearance since the ceasefire in a televised address Thursday, declaring “victory” and insisting Iran would never yield to U.S. pressure.
The funeral ceremonies will begin at 8:00 am local time in Tehran’s Enghelab Square and will end with a procession to Azadi Square. Authorities expect large crowds in what officials described as a “historic day” for the Islamic Republic.
