(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has ceased all efforts to ease sanctions on Iran, citing inflammatory remarks from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the trigger for his decision.

“During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery - The sanctions are BITING!

But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,” Trump stated on Truth Social.

Khamenei, in a speech delivered Wednesday, threatened retaliation if the U.S. conducted additional military strikes, asserting that American military installations in the region could become targets.

“The Islamic Republic slapped America in the face. It attacked one of the important American bases in the region,” Khamenei said.

Trump criticized Khamenei’s credibility, pointing to what he claimed were falsehoods in the Supreme Leader's statements about Iran’s regional victories.

“Why would the so-called ‘Supreme Leader,’ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so,” Trump said.

On June 22, the United States carried out a series of precision strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The operation included six bunker-busting bombs dropped on the Fordo enrichment facility and a barrage of cruise missiles launched from submarines at separate targets in Natanz and Isfahan.

Trump emphasized the success of the mission, reiterating that all three nuclear installations were “obliterated.”

“I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life. I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'” he added.

The president also claimed he intervened to stop a major Israeli air offensive in the final phase of the recent conflict, instructing them to abort an imminent strike on Tehran. He argued the attack would have caused extensive casualties and destruction.

Trump stated that Iran is "always so angry, hostile, and unhappy."

“I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR. PEACE!!!” he wrote.

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