Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, declared Thursday that Israel’s dependence on the United States in the face of growing regional strife was an obvious indication of its “weakness and defeat,” and that Iran would continue to react “strongly and decisively” to Israeli aggression.
In a televised speech to top military and religious leaders in Tehran, Khamenei declared, “The enemy should be treated the way he deserves.”
“The enemy won’t stop if they sense your fear.” They’ll keep pushing. They are like that.
Khamenei’s comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion that the United States might be involved in Israel’s military response to Iran, saying that President Trump should make the final decision on the topic.
The Iranian leader, however, brushed off such pleas for foreign assistance as desperate. “It is not a show of strength to call on America for assistance; rather, it is a reflection of Israel’s fear and internal collapse,” Khamenei stated.
Netanyahu said Khamenei is the main target and that no one in Iran is safe.
Following a direct Iranian missile strike on the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Thursday that “no one is immune” in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Netanyahu told reporters during a tour of the damaged hospital that Israel will use force if needed and that all options are still open. The premier declared, “No one is immune.” “Every choice is open.”
Netanyahu recognized that hitting Iran’s highest leadership is a possibility, but he refrained from providing specifics. He went on, “It’s best not to discuss this in the media.”
Netanyahu, who has generally maintained strategic ambiguity regarding Israel’s intentions regarding prominent Iranian officials, has changed tone with these remarks. Defense Minister Israel Katz, on the other hand, has adopted a more assertive stance, publicly demanding Khamenei’s overthrow earlier this week and likening him to a “modern Hitler.”
Netanyahu underlined Israel’s resolve while speaking with medical staff at Soroka Hospital, which was severely damaged during the Iranian missile attack. “There will be no ballistic or nuclear threat to Israel at the end of this operation,” he declared.
Regarding the wider geopolitical ramifications, Netanyahu stated that Washington would continue to have the final say over U.S. engagement in the conflict. “President Trump has to make that decision,” he stated. “I’ll act in Israel’s best interests, and he’ll act in America’s best interests. He is familiar with the game.
Hours after an unprecedented missile attack from Iranian territory struck multiple locations throughout Israel, directly affecting Soroka Medical Center, Netanyahu made these remarks. Emergency personnel resumed their work into the night after at least 50 individuals were hurt in various areas.
Netanyahu also revealed that the battle had affected him personally in an emotional statement. He disclosed that his son had called off a scheduled wedding because of the continuous turmoil, saying, “All of us are paying a personal price.”
The influential Guardian Council of Iran offers a dire warning.
As Israeli officials’ threats increased, Iran’s influential Guardian Council in Tehran issued a harsh warning. The Council said in a statement that the US should not back any effort to attack Khamenei.
The statement cautioned that “if Trump considers attacking, such a storm will arise that will destroy everyone.” The Council stated that any direct action against the Supreme Leader would have “beyond imagination” repercussions and accused the Israeli leadership of driving the region into a perilous escalation.
