Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran: "Honey vs. Vinegar" Approach as Nuclear Tensions Mount

President Donald Trump delivered a strong message to Iran on Friday, June 28, asserting that the nation would benefit more from a cooperative approach than from hostility, famously stating that "you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR." His comments came alongside a stern warning that he would authorize renewed military action if Iran restarted its nuclear activities.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump sharply criticized Tehran for declaring victory over Israel and announced a halt to discussions regarding potential sanctions relief. He declared that the United States would have "no hesitation" in bombing Iran again if the country resumed enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels, following recent US strikes.

The former president accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of ingratitude. This accusation stemmed from Khamenei's remarks downplaying the damage inflicted by the bombings and boasting that Iran had defeated Israel while delivering a "slap" to Washington. Trump sensationally claimed to have personally saved Khamenei from assassination.

"I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel or the U.S. Armed Forces—the greatest and most powerful in the world—terminate his life,” Trump wrote.

He continued, asserting, "I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he doesn’t even have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’”

Trump further revealed that he had been considering easing sanctions on Iran, a long-standing demand from Tehran. However, he stated he abandoned this idea after Khamenei’s defiant public statements. "Instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, so I immediately stopped all work on sanction relief," Trump explained, urging Iran to return to diplomatic negotiations.

Meanwhile, Iran has publicly denied any intentions to restart nuclear talks with Washington, directly contradicting Trump’s earlier suggestions at a NATO summit in The Hague that new negotiations could commence next week. Tehran also rejected a request from Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to inspect facilities recently targeted by Israeli and US strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Grossi on X of failing to condemn the bombings, labeling it an "astounding betrayal" of his responsibilities.

When asked at a White House press conference whether he would approve new airstrikes if previous military actions failed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump responded unequivocally: "Sure. Without question. Absolutely." He also mocked Khamenei’s claims of victory, stating that Iran "got beat to hell" during the recent hostilities, adding, "It was a great time to end it."

In his Truth Social posts, Trump also questioned Khamenei's religious integrity, writing: "As a man of great faith, he [Khamenei] is not supposed to lie, yet he blatantly and foolishly claims Iran won the 12-day war with Israel.” This war of words follows a fragile ceasefire established after a conflict that erupted on June 13, initiated by Israeli airstrikes aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also weighed in on X, stating: “Israel acted at the last possible moment against an imminent threat to itself, the region, and the world. Now the international community must prevent, by any means necessary, the world’s most extreme regime from acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapon.”

Khamenei made his first public appearance since the ceasefire in a televised address on Thursday, unequivocally declaring Iran’s “victory” over Israel and vowing never to succumb to US pressure. He also dismissed Trump’s assertion that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back by decades, stating, “The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways—it seems he needed this exaggeration.”