Iran Responds to Trump's 'Trash' Insult: We Will Retaliate with Action
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed insulting remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who called Iran’s leaders “trash” and “insane”.
Araghchi stressed that Iran does not respond to “harsh words with harsh words”, but rather with action.
“Referring to the civilised and courageous Iranian nation in derogatory language will not diminish their greatness,” Araghchi said in a statement on social media platform X, as reported by Press TV on Thursday (9/7/2026).
“The Iranian nation is known for its politeness, culture and strong moral values. We do not answer crude words with crude words, but with action: fearlessly and with full courage,” he asserted.
Araghchi’s statement came after Trump, speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, described Iran’s leaders as “trash” and “insane”. He also announced that the ceasefire agreement had ended, after the two countries resumed attacking one another.
“I think it’s over,” Trump said, when asked by journalists about the US-Iran ceasefire.
“I don’t want to deal with them again. They’re trash, they’re sick people, they’re led by mentally sick people, and they’re vicious and brutal people. And if they had nuclear weapons, they would use them,” he said, referring to Iran’s current leadership.
“As far as I’m concerned, dealing with them is a waste of time,” Trump told journalists.
Trump further accused Iran of repeatedly misrepresenting what had been agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement.
“Everyone agreed, no nuclear weapons. We made a deal. They went out, spoke to the press, and then said we never even discussed it. There’s something wrong with them, they’re insane. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” Trump said.
The string of insults came amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US struck dozens of Iranian targets from Tuesday (7/7) local time, in response to attacks on three commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway, which are believed to have been orchestrated by Tehran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retaliated by striking dozens of US military targets in Gulf countries.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also Tehran’s chief negotiator, accused the US of violating the ceasefire. He cited the latest series of American attacks, the reimposition of sanctions on Iranian oil, breaches of the “adjustments” Tehran had implemented in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon.
“The era of bullying and extortion has ended. We will not submit,” Ghalibaf asserted.