Trump’s Hand Is Revealed Before Ayatollah Khamenei
WANA (Oct 21) – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s response to Donald Trump’s carefully orchestrated remarks about Iran appears to have carried a distinct and calculated impact. The Iranian leader usually avoids lengthy commentary about Trump and often ignores his statements altogether. Yet, at critical moments, just a few words from Khamenei have been enough to undermine large portions of the American president’s psychological and media offensive.
1. This approach became most evident during the twelve-day war between Iran and Israel. At that time, Trump sought to exploit the media environment to influence Iranian public opinion. In his second message during the conflict, Ayatollah Khamenei directly addressed Trump’s comments, stating, “Make your threats against those who fear them.” The phrase quickly went viral in Iran, effectively neutralizing much of Trump’s psychological campaign. From that moment, Iran gained the upper hand in the media and psychological arena—a dominance that soon extended to the battlefield through missile operations.
An Iranian missile system is displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to showcase Iran’s authority during the Iranian defence week, in a street in Tehran, Iran, September 24, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
2. In his third message, Khamenei again referred to Trump, congratulating the Iranian people for what he called a victory not only over Israel but also over the United States. This statement fueled doubts about Washington’s actual success in the war. Trump, already facing domestic criticism in the U.S. media, felt further weakened as his efforts failed to shake the Iranian leadership. In the aftermath, he made several attempts to sound conciliatory—praising Iran’s courage and missile capabilities—but Khamenei showed no sign of acknowledgment or even indirect approval. This lack of response only intensified Trump’s frustration and irritation.
3. Khamenei’s recent remarks in a meeting with Iranian athletes and scientific achievers continued the same tone and discourse. Observers were anticipating his reaction to Trump’s renewed diplomatic gestures in support of Israel. The Iranian leader dismissed these moves as a morale-boosting effort for the “Zionist regime,” replying with the cutting phrase, “Keep dreaming.” The statement cast further doubt on Trump’s claims about weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The wide coverage of these remarks in both domestic and international media confirmed that this rhetorical strategy still carries significant weight.
Taken together, the events of recent months suggest that Trump’s moves have become largely predictable to Ayatollah Khamenei. By maintaining firm control over Iran’s internal psychological climate, the Supreme Leader has effectively prevented Trump’s propaganda and psychological operations from influencing the Iranian public.
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