Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about the American strikes on Iran, accusing him of exaggerating the military operation to conceal its ineffectiveness.

“They Exaggerated to Hide the Truth”

In a post on his official X account, Khamenei stated:

“The U.S. president used unconventional exaggeration in describing what happened, which proved necessary. Anyone who heard those words realized there was another hidden truth behind them. They couldn’t do anything; they didn’t achieve anything, so they exaggerated to hide the truth and keep it secret.”

His comments come days after President Trump told Fox News that Iran was just “weeks away” from building a nuclear weapon before the U.S. launched coordinated strikes on June 22 targeting Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities.

Trump: Iran “Exhausted,” Might See Sanctions Relief

In the same interview, Trump hinted at the possibility of lifting sanctions if Tehran demonstrated "good faith," while also claiming Iran had no time to relocate its uranium stockpile before the strikes. He described Iran as “very exhausted,” adding that the term "enrichment" is now a "bad word" the country should avoid.

Escalation and Ceasefire

The remarks follow a dramatic 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel that drew the United States into direct military engagement. The U.S. conducted airstrikes on June 22, which reportedly targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities. In response, Iran launched missile strikes at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Qatar, causing no casualties.

President Trump later announced a ceasefire, and since then, diplomatic discourse has centered on whether Iran will resume nuclear talks.

Media Analysis: Differing Narratives

While U.S. officials have described the strikes as a critical setback to Iran's nuclear ambitions, Iranian leadership has sought to downplay the damage. The New York Times reported that the attacks severely crippled Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons in the near term, while Iranian officials claim that their nuclear infrastructure remains intact and operational.

Khamenei’s public rebuke underscores the ongoing information war accompanying the military and diplomatic fallout of the conflict.