Iran Leader derides Trump over claim of destroying nuclear industry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Oct 2025 16:22
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Iran's Leader dismisses Trump’s boastful claim about destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, highlighting the resilience of Iranian youth amid ongoing psychological warfare.

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Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei listens to a speaker in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on October 20, 2025 (Office of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution via AP)

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, rebuked United States President Donald Trump for his recent boastful claims about destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, while lauding the country’s youth for their achievements in sports and international scientific competitions.

Youth as symbols of national strength

During a meeting with hundreds of champions from various sports and winners of International Science Olympiads, Sayyed Khamenei emphasized the potential and resilience of Iranian youth. He said their accomplishments demonstrate that the country’s hopeful generation “have the strength to stand on the peaks and draw the world’s attention to the bright horizon of Iran.”

Addressing the medalists, the leader added that their victories hold special significance in the current era of “soft war", during which the enemy seeks to spread despair and hopelessness among the Iranian people.

“You have proven that the hopeful youth of Iran, as symbols of the nation, have the ability to stand atop global peaks and draw the world’s attention to Iran’s bright horizon,” he said.

Sharp rebuke of US nuclear claims

Sayyed Khamenei directly addressed Trump’s recent statements, dismissing claims that the US had destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry.

“Fine, keep dreaming,” he said, "if so they with to think."

“But who do you think you are to make any prescriptions about whether a country can or cannot have a nuclear industry?”

Sayyed Khamenei further condemned what he described as bullying and baseless rhetoric from the US president, stating that his behavior aimed to “raise the spirit of the Zionists and make himself look powerful through lies about Iran, the region, and its people.”

He added, “If he is truly powerful, let him calm the millions of people in all US states who are chanting against him.”

Defying psychological warfare

Expressing joy at meeting the nation’s accomplished youth, Sayyed Khamenei noted that their achievements carry added value at a time when “the enemy, through psychological warfare, seeks to make the nation hopeless and forgetful of its own abilities.”

He dismissed claims of despair among Iranian youth as unfounded, stressing that “our dear Iran and its youth are symbols of hope.” He concluded by affirming that with determination and effort, young Iranians “can and will reach the highest peaks.”