In a tense Fox News interview, Bret Baier pressed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over recent social media posts by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that directly taunted President Donald Trump. The posts, shared on X, depicted Trump as a pharaoh-like tyrant destined for overthrow, drawing widespread international attention amid Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.

Araghchi defended the Supreme Leader’s remarks by framing them within the context of active conflict, explaining that “we were in the middle of a war started against us, and the rhetorics are quite normal in any war.” He referred to the 12-day military escalation in early January 2026, triggered by Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear and strategic targets, which Tehran characterized as aggression requiring robust wartime messaging.

Baier challenged this justification, questioning why the Supreme Leader himself would resort to personal taunts against the U.S. president rather than addressing the broader security situation. The line of questioning highlighted the disconnect between Iran’s public rhetoric and international expectations, particularly at a time when President Trump has warned of further action should Tehran escalate its repression of demonstrators.

The exchange underscores the heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, where social media rhetoric is increasingly intertwined with military operations and geopolitical signaling. Analysts note that Khamenei’s X posts are not merely symbolic but serve to project defiance and rally domestic support amid severe internal unrest.

With Iran facing ongoing protests and the U.S. signaling readiness to respond to both human rights violations and nuclear threats, the interview illustrates the complex interplay of propaganda, military action, and diplomacy. The world continues to watch closely as rhetoric and reality collide in this volatile chapter of Middle Eastern affairs.