US President Donald Trump said he had saved Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from assassination and lashed out at the supreme leader for ingratitude, declaring he would order more bombing if the country tried to pursue nuclear weapons.  In an extraordinary outburst on his Truth Social platform, Trump blasted Tehran for claiming to have won its war with Israel and said he was halting work on possible sanctions relief.  The tirade came as Iran prepared to hold a state funeral for 60 nuclear scientists and military commanders who were killed in the 12-day bombing blitz Israel launched on June 13. 

Iran says the scientists were among a total of at least 627 civilians killed.  Trump said the United States would bomb Iran again "without question" if intelligence indicated it was able to enrich uranium to military grade.  Iran has consistently denied any ambition to develop a nuclear arsenal.  Trump accused the Iranian leader of ingratitude after Khamenei said in a defiant message that reports of damage to nuclear facilities were exaggerated and that Tehran had dealt Washington a "slap" in the face. 

"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. 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. 

Iran has denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States, after Trump said that negotiations were set to begin again next week.  Its government on Friday rejected a request by Rafael Grossi, the director of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, to visit facilities bombed by Israel and the United States, saying it suggested "malign intent."  Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit out at Grossi personally in a post on X for not speaking out against the air strikes, accusing him of an "astounding betrayal of his duties." 

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".  The war of words came with a fragile ceasefire holding in the conflict between Israel and Iran.  Speculation had swirled about the fate of Khamenei before his first appearance since the ceasefire -- a televised speech on Thursday.  Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's "victory" over Israel, vowing never to yield to US pressure. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)