Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, rejected the peace proposals put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump in a statement released Thursday, affirming the country’s commitment to maintaining its nuclear and missile programs. Despite reportedly sustaining severe injuries, Khamenei emphasized Iran’s determination to safeguard what he described as the nation’s core technological and scientific assets.

In a message disseminated through state media, Khamenei framed Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities alongside advances in fields such as nanotechnology and biotechnology as integral components of the country’s identity and sovereignty. He asserted that all Iranians, both domestic and abroad, would defend these assets with the same vigilance applied to protecting Iran’s territorial waters, land, and airspace.

Khamenei also issued a stark warning to the United States, criticizing its presence in the Persian Gulf and using strong language to describe America’s role in the region. He referred to the U.S. as the “Great Satan” and declared that foreign powers entering the Gulf with hostile intentions had no place there “except at the bottom of its waters.” This rhetoric underscores longstanding tensions between the two countries, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence.

The timing of this statement follows a period of escalating hostilities between Tehran and Washington, with disagreements over nuclear development, sanctions, and military activity in the Gulf continuing to fuel conflict. President Trump’s administration has previously insisted on stringent conditions for Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions and curtail missile development, aiming to limit Tehran’s strategic capabilities.

Iran’s outright rejection of these terms signals that negotiations remain deeply fraught, and the prospect of diplomatic resolution appears distant. Observers note that Khamenei’s defiant tone serves both to bolster internal morale among Iranians and to send a clear message to the international community regarding Tehran’s unwillingness to compromise on its key military and technological programs.