Iran’s supreme leader has fired back at President Trump’s recent threats, warning that any U.S. military intervention would inflict “irreparable damage” on America. In a televised address on Wednesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rebuked Trump’s ultimatum for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” insisting that “those with wisdom who know Iran and its history never speak to this nation in the language of threats.”
Over the past week, President Trump took to Truth Social to declare that U.S. forces are poised to strike if Iran targets American interests—and even mockingly referred to Khamenei as an “easy target,” before clarifying “we are not going to take him out … at least not for now.” He further claimed that the United States enjoys “complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” and insisted that Iran “must surrender” to avert destruction.
Khamenei dismissed those demands, declaring that “Iran is not a nation that will surrender” and that any foreign boots on Iranian soil would trigger consequences “that cannot be compensated.” He denounced the notion of an “imposed peace” as unacceptable, framing Trump’s rhetoric as evidence that Washington is complicit in Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian facilities.
That campaign of Israeli strikes began last Friday, targeting nuclear and military sites under the pretext of preventing Tehran from developing a bomb. Iran retaliated with waves of drone and missile salvoes against Israeli cities. In the wake of those exchanges, Turkey’s President Erdoğan voiced support for Iran’s right to defend itself, and Russia condemned Israel’s actions as “illegal,” warning they could precipitate a “nuclear catastrophe” and violate international law.
As global leaders weigh in—some calling for diplomatic restraint, others threatening escalation—Iran’s supreme leader has made clear that his country will neither bow to ultimatums nor accept a peace imposed by force.
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