Trump, Iran's supreme leader trade threats as mediators try to save deal

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran's supreme leader exchanged threats on Saturday, escalating tensions as mediators worked to salvage a crumbling interim deal. Trump posted on social media that "a thousand missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran," vowing to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran" should the Iranian government act on its threats.

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a thousand missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat.

These threats followed Iran's funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where calls for Trump's killing were made. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed that Iranians would avenge his father's death, stating that such revenge "is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out." Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the war began on Feb. 28 with strikes that killed his father.

The exchange of threats occurred after days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran, which were sparked by Iran's attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously retaliated with fire targeting Arab nations in the region. Trump declared the ceasefire over but indicated the U.S. would continue negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman for talks, following meetings by Qatari mediators in Tehran.

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Such revenge “is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out,”

Araghchi accused the U.S. of violating the interim deal by ending waivers that allowed Iran to sell crude oil on the open market in U.S. dollars. Washington ended these waivers in response to the attacks on ships in the strait. "Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance," Araghchi wrote on X. Senior U.S. officials also demanded that Iran publicly state that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that ships will not be attacked.

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Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance.