Khamenei Warns US, Rejects Imposed War or Peace

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant televised address on Wednesday, asserting that Iran will stand resolute against both “imposed war and imposed peace” and will not yield to external pressures. The remarks, reported by Iran’s IRIB and Mehr News Agencies, come amid heightened tensions following recent Israeli aggression and US rhetoric. Khamenei praised the Iranian nation’s steadfastness and courage in response to what he described as “stupid and malicious” attacks by the “Zionist enemy,” referring to Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian territory.  He lauded the Iranian people’s resolve as a testament to the nation’s blend of rationality and spirituality, emphasizing that Iran would not surrender to any form of coercion. Addressing comments attributed to US President Donald Trump, Khamenei warned that those familiar with Iran’s history understand that the nation does not respond to threats. 

“Intelligent people who know Iran and its history will never speak to this nation in the language of threats,” he said, adding that any US military intervention would result in “irreparable damage” to American interests. Khamenei also vowed that Israel would face consequences for its actions, describing the recent aggression as a grave mistake. The Supreme Leader’s remarks follow Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israeli targets, which the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed showcased Iran’s advanced military capabilities and dominance over Israeli air defences.