WASHINGTON — In a provocative move, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a sharp warning to President Trump, suggesting that the formidable U.S. military presence in the region could face a severe setback. He claimed the U.S. forces might be “slapped so hard, they cannot rise again.”

This stern message from the 86-year-old leader coincided with diplomatic efforts in Geneva, where U.S. and Iranian representatives are engaged in talks concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the ongoing friction between the two nations.

“The U.S. President boasts about having the world’s strongest military, but even the most powerful army can be dealt a blow so severe that it struggles to recover,” Khamenei remarked, as reported by Iranian media outlets.

Khamenei, whose government recently faced harsh criticism for a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests—resulting in at least 7,000 casualties according to human rights groups—also issued a threat on social media platform X, indicating potential attacks on U.S. naval vessels.

“The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran,” Khamenei’s team posted on his English X account. “Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”

Heightening the already tense atmosphere, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard initiated military exercises in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, along with the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, signaling escalating tensions with the United States.

President Trump, maintaining a firm stance, has not dismissed the possibility of employing military action against Iran. This current military buildup in the region is reminiscent of the forces amassed near Venezuela prior to the January 3 operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump told reporters Friday when asked about the possibility of regime change in Iran.

When asked if the US could target the Tehran regime’s nuclear sites again, Trump replied, “If we do it, that would be the least of the mission.”