Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has dismissed Donald Trump’s “threatening and absurd statements” after the US president called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender”
Iran has issued a stark warning that if the US joins forces with Israel, it will “result in irreparable damage for them” – amid fears of an “all-out war.” Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has dismissed Donald Trump’s “threatening and absurd statements” after he hinted he could assassinate the 86-year-old. He also called for the country’s “unconditional surrender.”
“Wise individuals who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation with the language of threats, because the Iranian nation is not one to surrender,” Khamenei said. “Americans should know that any military involvement by the U.S. will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them.”
Khamenei also urged officials to “continue their work with strength and trust in God.” “God will certainly and surely make the Iranian nation … victorious,” he said.
READ MORE: Iran-Israel LIVE: Khamenei warns Trump ‘we will never surrender’ after threat
Trump initially distanced himself from Israel’s attack on Friday that triggered the conflict, but in recent days has hinted at greater US involvement, saying he wants something “much bigger” than a ceasefire. The US has also sent more military aircraft and warships to the region. An Iranian official had earlier warned that US intervention would risk “all-out war.”
Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has retaliated by launching 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel.
Why did Israel attack Iran?
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has claimed that his actions were in response to an Iranian scheme to construct a nuclear bomb, alleging that Tehran already possesses the capability to create nine nuclear bombs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board determined last Thursday that Iran had breached its commitments under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty by not fully cooperating with IAEA inspections and accumulating an estimated 400kg of highly enriched uranium. Until now, Western intelligence evaluations had stated that Iran has not made the final decision to build a bomb.
Will the US get involved in the conflict?
President Trump claimed he left the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early to deal with the issue, telling reporters: “I’m not looking at a ceasefire. We’re looking at better than a ceasefire.”
When asked to explain, he said the US wanted to see “a real end” to the conflict that could involve Iran “giving up entirely.” He added: “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
However, he held a 90-minute meeting on Tuesday with his national security team in the Situation Room of the White House. According to reports, the president’s advisers are divided on how to act.
But in a chilling warning on Truth Social, Trump said the US knows where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but that there were no plans to kill him “at least not for now.”
His mixed statements have caused confusion about the US’s role in the conflict as Tehran residents flee their homes on the sixth day of Israel’s air campaign aimed at Iran’s military and nuclear program. Thousands of American troops are based in nearby countries within range of Iran’s weapons. The U.S. has threatened a massive response to any attack.
US military action will be met with ‘irreparable harm’
Iran’s supreme leader has warned the United States that joining the Israeli strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.”
Khamenei dismissed the “threatening and absurd statements” by Trump. “Wise individuals who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation with the language of threats, because the Iranian nation is not one to surrender,” he said. “Americans should know that any military involvement by the U.S. will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them.”
A state TV anchor had read Khamenei’s statement earlier, before the video was aired. Iran followed a similar sequence in releasing an earlier statement from the supreme leader, perhaps as a security measure. His location is not known.
His voice echoed as he sat in a room with beige curtains. An Iranian flag and a portrait of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who Khamenei succeeded in 1989, hung behind him.
Khamenei also urged officials to “continue their work with strength and trust in God.” “God will certainly and surely make the Iranian nation … victorious,” he said.