Iran has told Donald Trump to “keep dreaming” as Tehran denied its nuclear programme has been destroyed and rejected new talks with the US. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticised American “interventions” and comments made by Mr Trump.
In an address to the Israeli parliament last week, the US president urged Israel and Iran to agree to a peace deal and claimed Tehran had taken “a big hit” during the 12-day war in June. Washington had been trying to secure a new nuclear deal with Tehran prior to American forces joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities. Mr Khamenei said: “Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying.”
During his speech to the Knesset, Mr Trump said: “They [Iran] got hit from one side, from the other.
“And you know what would be great? If we could make a peace deal with them, and I think that’s big.
“Would you be happy with that? Wouldn’t it be nice? You think? Because I think they want to. I think they’re tired.”
He made the address on the day the final living Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees were freed as part of the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Mr Trump reiterated his claim that Iran’s nuclear sites had been “obliterated”, although reported early Pentagon intelligence assessments have disputed this.
According to Iran state media, Mr Khamenei added: “The US president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!
“What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear facilities or not? These interventions are inappropriate, wrong and coercive.”
The US and Israel claimed Iran was close to acquiring atomic weapons.
This was denied by Tehran which insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Mr Trump hailed a “historic dawn of a new Middle East” in his speech to the Knesset on October 13.
Speaking to Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Mr Trump said Iran “no longer became the bully” of the region following the US strikes in the summer.
