“You Won’t Topple Us”: Khamenei Fires Back at Trump Amid Rising Tensions

Khamenei Challenges Trump, Warns US Cannot “Eliminate” Iran as Geneva Talks Begin

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Tuesday delivered a defiant message to US President Donald Trump, saying Washington would never succeed in destroying the Islamic Republic and cautioning that even the “strongest military force in the world” could suffer a crippling blow.

His remarks came as American and Iranian officials opened a fresh round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva amid heightened regional tensions.

“You Will Not Be Able To Do This”

In a series of posts on X, Khamenei pushed back against Trump’s repeated references to US military power. “The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again,” he wrote.

Referring to American naval deployments near Iran, he added that while warships are formidable, “more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.” Khamenei also seized on Trump’s comment that the United States has failed for decades to eliminate Iran’s ruling system. “That is a good confession,” he said. “I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this.’”

Trump Signals Tough Line Ahead of Talks

A day earlier, Trump said he would be involved “indirectly” in the high-stakes negotiations and suggested Tehran may now be more open to compromise.

“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” he said, referencing past US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. “We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s. I hope they’re going to be more reasonable.”

The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, and officials have indicated that military options remain under consideration if diplomacy fails. Washington continues to demand that Iran abandon uranium enrichment — a condition Tehran has firmly rejected.

Iran insists that zero enrichment is not negotiable and says it is prepared only to discuss limitations on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Diplomacy Under Omani Mediation

The talks in Geneva are being mediated by Oman and are aimed at preventing further escalation. Reuters reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to participate, alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Araqchi said he had travelled to Geneva to pursue a “fair and equitable deal,” adding that “submission before threats” would not be accepted. Tehran has also ruled out widening the negotiations to include its missile programme.

On Monday, Araqchi met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, signalling continued engagement with international nuclear oversight.

Strait of Hormuz Exercises Add Pressure

Even as talks resumed, Iran escalated military signalling in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to Fars News, parts of the waterway were temporarily closed for a military drill titled “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz.” The exercises are being conducted by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the supervision of its commander-in-chief, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour.

State media said the drills are intended to assess operational readiness and rehearse responses to potential security threats in one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. With sharp rhetoric on both sides and military movements underway, the Geneva negotiations now carry significant weight in determining whether tensions ease — or deepen further.