President Donald Trump said on Friday he would consider bombing Iran again if Tehran was enriching uranium to a level that concerned the United States, and he backed inspections of Iran's bombed nuclear sites.
“Sure, without question, absolutely,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of new bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if deemed necessary at some point.
At a White House news conference, Trump said he plans to respond soon to comments from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who said Iran "slapped America in the face" by launching an attack against a major US base in Qatar following last weekend's US bombing raid.
Trump also said he would like inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another respected source to be able to inspect Iran's nuclear sites after they were bombed last weekend.
Trump said he believes the sites were “obliterated.” He rejected any suggestion that the damage to the sites was not as profound as he has claimed.
Nonetheless, Trump said he would support the IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, going in to check the bombed sites. The agency's chief, Rafael Grossi, said on Wednesday that ensuring the resumption of IAEA inspections was his top priority, as none had taken place since Israel began bombing on June 13.
However, Iran's parliament approved moves on Wednesday to suspend such inspections. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated on Friday that Tehran may reject any request by the head of the agency for visits to Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump also said he does not believe Iran still wants to seek a nuclear weapon after the U.S. and Israeli bombing raids. He noted that Iran still wants to meet about the way forward.
The White House had said on Thursday that no meeting between the US and an Iranian delegation had been scheduled thus far.
Trump said Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "got beat to hell" in the hostilities involving the United States and Israel and that "it was a great time to end it."
Trump said he had prevented Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from being assassinated, as he lashed out at Iran's supreme leader for saying Tehran won the war with Israel.
"I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH," Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that he had stopped work on easing sanctions against Iran following Khamenei's comments.
He said that he had immediately dropped work on sanctions relief for Iran after its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali US President Donald Trump said Friday he had prevented Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from being assassinated, as he lashed out at Iran's supreme leader for saying Tehran won the war with Israel.
Khamenei said his country had scored a victory over the United States. "During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given amuch better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more."
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