Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, boldly stated that Tehran isn’t intimidated by President Trump’s “absurd rhetoric,” dismissing the U.S. demand for Iranian compliance in its conflict with Israel.
“The U.S. President threatens us. With his absurd statements, he demands that the Iranian people submit to him. They should be wary of those who feel threatened. The Iranian state doesn’t fear such threats,” Khamenei remarked in a post on X.
He asserted that Iran would never back down, emphasizing that a U.S. attack would lead to “serious irreparable consequences.”
Khamenei expressed that the U.S. involvement in the situation would ultimately be self-destructive, claiming the harm it experiences would outstrip any damage to Iran.
“It’s been suspected that the U.S. was behind the malicious actions of the Zionist administration, but given the recent comments, that suspicion only grows,” he added.
Khamenei’s comments echoed sentiments he shared in a recorded address aired on state television after Trump insisted on “unconditional surrender” and ominously warned the Supreme Leader that the U.S. had knowledge of his whereabouts.
In a post on social media, Trump remarked, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Super Leader’ is hiding. He’s an easy target, but for now, he’s safe. I won’t take him out (I’ll kill him!) at least for now.”
“However, we don’t want to harm civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
Initially, Trump seemed to distance himself from Israel’s unexpected attacks last Friday, leading to increased tensions, but he recently expressed a desire for something beyond a mere ceasefire between the two conflicting nations.
In his low-quality recorded speech, Khamenei reiterated and dismissed Trump’s threats, stating, “Iran, the Iranian state, and its knowledgeable people will never engage in threatening discourse with this country because we will not surrender.”
He advised Americans that military intervention from the U.S. would inevitably result in irreparable damage.
On Wednesday morning, Iranian diplomats warned that U.S. intervention could lead to an all-out war.
“American intervention will be a recipe for an all-out war in the region,” cautioned Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghhai in an interview with Al Jazeera.
A representative from the foreign ministry remained vague on specifics, but it was noted that thousands of American troops are stationed in nearby countries, within the range of Iran’s capabilities.
