Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the Islamic Republic to surrender unconditionally, stating that Iran will never submit to threats or pressure.
In a televised statement read by a presenter on Wednesday, Khamenei stressed that Iran’s future would not be dictated by foreign powers.
His comments come days after Israel launched a major aerial assault on Tehran, intensifying a volatile situation in the region.
“Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender,” Khamenei declared.
He added, “The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.”
The escalation follows Israeli airstrikes overnight that targeted Tehran. Israel’s military confirmed that 50 fighter jets struck approximately 20 locations, which it claimed were involved in missile production—including facilities for raw materials, components, and manufacturing systems.
As smoke rose over the Iranian capital, thousands of civilians were seen fleeing the city amid fears of further attacks. The situation has raised international concerns about a broader regional war.
A source familiar with internal deliberations in Washington said President Trump is weighing several options, including the possibility of the U.S. joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, warned that any direct U.S. involvement would trigger retaliation from Tehran. He emphasized that Tehran already considers the U.S. complicit in Israel’s actions. “We already see the U.S. as complicit in what Israel is doing,” Bahreini stated.
The developments have drawn global attention, with analysts warning of the potential for further destabilization across the Middle East.
