Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply Friday after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a direct warning to President Donald Trump, demanding an end to what he described as “disrespectful” rhetoric aimed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The statement, posted on X, follows the conclusion of a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel and comes amid growing uncertainty over the future of nuclear diplomacy.
“If Trump truly wants a deal with Iran, he must show respect instead of insulting Ayatollah Khamenei,” Araghchi wrote. He urged the U.S. president to “put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone” and accused Trump of “hurting millions of heartfelt followers” of Iran’s top religious and political figure.
Araghchi’s remarks included a blend of national pride and veiled threats, using metaphor to emphasize Iran’s resilience. “The complexity and tenacity of Iranians is famously known in our magnificent carpets,” he wrote. “We know our worth, value our independence, and never allow anyone else to decide our destiny.”
The complexity and tenacity of Iranians is famously known in our magnificent carpets, woven through countless hours of hard work and patience. But as a people, our basic premise is very simple and straightforward: we know our worth, value our independence, and never allow anyone…
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 27, 2025
The post took a sharp turn when Araghchi mocked Israel’s dependence on the United States during the recent military standoff, in which U.S. airstrikes—authorized by Trump—disabled several of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to ‘Daddy’ to avoid being flattened by our Missiles,” Araghchi wrote, in a pointed reference to U.S. military support for Israel. The statement appeared designed to undercut perceptions of Israeli strength and shift the narrative to one of Iranian strategic dominance.
He concluded with a warning: “If Illusions lead to worse mistakes, Iran will not hesitate to unveil its Real Capabilities, which will certainly END any Delusion about the Power of Iran.”
The message comes in the wake of conflicting statements about the future of U.S.-Iran negotiations. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, had claimed that diplomacy was “back on track” and that new nuclear talks were imminent. Araghchi flatly denied those claims, stating that no negotiations were underway and that Iran had no plans to meet with U.S. officials in the coming week.
The Iranian foreign minister also addressed Trump’s claim that he had personally stopped a strike that would have killed Khamenei during the conflict. Trump previously stated that U.S. and Israeli forces had located the ayatollah but held back at his command. Araghchi dismissed those remarks and reiterated that Tehran’s decisions would be made independently, based on national interest—not pressure.
Trump later responded with a post of his own: “I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR. PEACE!!!”
