Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran
Tehran, Jun 18: Amid rising tensions in West Asia, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday issued a strong warning to the United States and Israel, saying Iran will neither accept imposed war nor surrender under pressure.
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” following a series of devastating Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Khamenei said, “Iranians do not answer well to the language of threat.” He added, “They should know that Iran will not surrender, and any US strike will have serious, irreparable consequences.”
Calling Israel’s military offensive a "huge mistake", Khamenei said the country will be punished. “Israel made a huge mistake and will be punished for that,” he declared in a fiery speech.
Tensions peaked after powerful Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted military and nuclear facilities in Tehran. The attack came shortly after Trump warned Tehran residents to evacuate and hinted at joint US-Israeli military action. Trump also posted on Truth Social claiming the US knows Khamenei’s location but has chosen not to target him — “at least not for now.”
The Israeli Defence Forces said 50 fighter jets struck 20 strategic sites, including missile manufacturing facilities. The strikes left at least 224 people dead and 1,277 injured in Iran, while Israel reported 24 fatalities from Iranian retaliatory strikes.
The situation has triggered mass panic in Tehran, with thousands of residents fleeing the capital. Meanwhile, diplomatic circles remain on edge, with reports suggesting the US is considering deeper military engagement alongside Israel.