In a notable escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly labeled U.S. President Donald Trump a “liar” during remarks on Saturday, intensifying already fraught relations between the two nations.

The remarks were reported by Bloomberg and come amid renewed confrontations over nuclear policy and regional security.

Khamenei, who rarely refers to individual Western politicians by name in public speeches, accused Trump of dishonesty and deceit in regard to past U.S. commitments and negotiations.

His comments reflect Iran’s deep skepticism about engaging diplomatically with any future U.S. administration led by Trump, especially after the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

The statement comes at a sensitive time, Iran faces increasing internal and external pressure over its nuclear program and human rights record.

While current U.S. officials have largely refrained from engaging directly with Iranian leadership in recent weeks, the sharp rhetoric from Khamenei signals a potential return to the hostile standoff that characterized U.S.-Iran relations during Trump’s presidency.

Bloomberg notes that Khamenei’s denunciation follows a series of recent incidents, including suspected cyberattacks and military posturing in the Persian Gulf, that have reignited fears of a broader conflict in the region.

Analysts believe the Supreme Leader’s remarks are aimed at consolidating hardline support at home while sending a clear message abroad that Iran remains defiant in the face of perceived threats from the West.

While it remains to be seen how Trump or his campaign will respond, the verbal volley underscores the high stakes of the upcoming U.S. election for global diplomacy—particularly in the Middle East, w