In a blunt statement to US President Donald Trump, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Iran would not yield and cautioned that any US military action would result in irreversible harm.
In a broadcast message on Wednesday, following Trump’s demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” amidst its conflict with Israel, Khamenei asserted that Tehran would resist an “imposed war”.
“Smart people who understand Iran, its people, and their history will refrain from using threatening language towards this nation, as the Iranian people will never submit. Americans must realize that any military action by the US will surely lead to irreparable damage,” stated the Supreme Leader.
Reiterating his warning to Israel’s “terrorist Zionist regime,” Khamenei stated that neither peace nor war could be forced upon the Islamic Republic. The Supreme Leader seemed undeterred by the loss of his key military and security advisors to Israeli attacks.
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Shortly after, Khamenei, thought to be hiding in a bunker, repeated in an X post that Iran won’t be intimidated by the threats from the US President.
“The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats,” he further said.
American patience is diminishing, says Trump
Although the US has not yet directly participated in Israel’s ‘Rising Lion’, a military campaign aimed at eliminating Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump has signaled that American patience is diminishing.
In pursuit of Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” Trump stated that the US was aware of Khamenei’s exact “hiding” location but had no immediate plans to “eliminate him.”
The series of comments by Trump came as he departed the G7 Summit in Canada a day ahead of schedule, sparking rumors that the US might take military action in the dispute.
