Ali Khamenei has pushed back against warnings from Donald Trump, stating that even the world’s strongest military can be struck hard.
Speaking in Tehran on Tuesday, Khamenei dismissed Trump’s repeated claims about U.S. military power, saying, “The strongest military in the world may sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up,” and insisting that Washington cannot destroy the Islamic Republic.
He also claimed that Iran has weapons capable of targeting U.S. aircraft carriers recently deployed to the Middle East. “They say they have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran. An aircraft carrier is indeed a formidable asset. But more formidable is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea,” he added.
Khamenei made the remarks as Abbas Araghchi and his delegation began indirect negotiations with the U.S. in Geneva.
The statements come amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the region ahead of talks, with Trump warning that Iran would face “very steep” consequences if an agreement is not reached. Tehran, however, has maintained that it will not accept threats in negotiations and has vowed to respond forcefully to any potential attack.
