Trump torches Ayatollah for claiming victory in Israel war

President Donald Trump on Friday excoriated Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the Islamic leader claimed Iran had emerged victorious from its recent conflict with Israel.

"Why would the so-called 'Supreme Leader,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so," Trump posted on Truth Social. "As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie. His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and 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."

"The Iranian nation is victorious and will remain victorious by the grace of God," Khamenei posted on X this week. Trump, for his part, suggested that he had intervened to stop Israel from killing the Islamic Republic's leader and that Khamenei ought to be more grateful.

"I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'" Trump added. "In fact, in the final act of the War, I demanded that Israel bring back a very large group of planes, which were heading directly to Tehran, looking for a big day, perhaps the final knockout! Tremendous damage would have ensued, and many Iranians would have been killed."

"Iran has to get back into the World Order flow, or things will only get worse for them. They are always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them - A burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them," he added. "They have no hope, and it will only get worse! I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR. PEACE!!!"

At present, the Trump administration's claims of having destroyed the Iranian nuclear facilities and substantially damaged the country's nuclear capabilities remain the subject of intense dispute.