Uh oh.
There have been all sorts of talks and negotiations in the Middle East, which almost unanimously supported the idea of Iran giving up its nuclear ambitions. Of course, Iran's proxy war states like Yemen and the Palestinians want Iran to get a nuke to bomb Israel, but the sane nations, those who have already signed the Abraham Accords and others sympathetic toward peace, would like to see Iran dismantle their nukes.
Iran's Ayatollah seems to want to rebuff the US deal offered by Trump, which is a friendly deal. But the US has clearly stated, and Trump basically said, do it the friendly way or the US will destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Pick one.
FULL STORY ^^^
There have been all sorts of talks and negotiations in the Middle East, which almost unanimously supported the idea of Iran giving up its nuclear ambitions. Of course, Iran's proxy war states like Yemen and the Palestinians want Iran to get a nuke to bomb Israel, but the sane nations, those who have already signed the Abraham Accords and others sympathetic toward peace, would like to see Iran dismantle their nukes.
Iran's Ayatollah seems to want to rebuff the US deal offered by Trump, which is a friendly deal. But the US has clearly stated, and Trump basically said, do it the friendly way or the US will destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Pick one.
FULL STORY ^^^
Iran’s Khamenei Brands Trump a Liar in Escalation of Rhetoric
Arsalan ShahlaMay 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM UTC
Ayatollah Ali Khamanei
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of dishonesty and power abuse, marking the latest rhetorical flare-up between Tehran and the US.
“Trump said he wants to use power for peace; he lied,” Khamenei said in remarks aired Saturday on Iranian state television. “When have they ever used power to create peace?”
Khamenei’s remarks followed Trump’s tour this week of the Middle East, which included stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump accused the Islamic Republic’s leadership of corruption and “stealing their people’s wealth” to fund terrorism.
“Some of the remarks made during the US president’s trip to the region aren’t even worth responding to,” Khamenei said. “The level of the statements is so low that they are a source of shame for the speaker and a source of shame for the American people.”
The intensifying discourse comes as Washington and Tehran are holding ongoing talks about Iran’s nuclear activities. During his Middle East trip, Trump said he had extended an “olive branch” to Tehran, while reiterating that he would never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
While both sides have pointed to progress in talks, Iranian officials have accused the US of adopting mixed positions behind closed doors and with the media, a strategy they say could undermine the process.
Trump said Friday that Iran will face “something bad” if it doesn’t quickly accept a US proposal over its nuclear program, while officials in Tehran called the messaging “confusing and contradictory.” . . .