Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has responded firmly to US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to bomb Iran. In a speech during the Eid al-Fitr prayer in Tehran, Khamenei warned that any external aggression against Iran would be met with “firm retaliation.” He emphasized that while external aggression is not expected, Iran is prepared for any such action, reported the France 24.
“We do not believe that any external aggression is likely, but if any act of aggression occurs, they will undoubtedly receive a firm retaliatory blow,” Khamenei stated. He also made it clear that should attempts be made to stir unrest within the country, the Iranian people themselves would rise up in response.
Trump’s threat, made a day before Khamenei’s remarks, included warnings of bombings and secondary tariffs if Iran fails to agree to a new nuclear deal. Trump called for a renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which the US withdrew from in 2018. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing—the likes of which they have never seen before,” Trump warned in an interview.
Iran, however, rejected the offer of direct negotiations with the Trump administration. The Iranian government has expressed a willingness to engage in indirect talks to address the contentious nuclear program, but only through diplomatic channels. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reiterated this position, clarifying that they would not negotiate under military threats.
Khamenei also condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon, describing this year’s Ramadan as “bitter” due to these events. He accused the US of being complicit in Israeli actions against Palestinians and reiterated Iran’s stance on Israel. “Israel is a proxy force for Western powers in the region, and it must be uprooted from Palestine,” Khamenei declared.
Reacting to Trump’s bombing threat, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, described the remarks as a “shocking affront to international peace and security.” He warned that “violence breeds violence,” adding that the US must face the consequences of its actions.
Khamenei’s warning, coupled with the escalating tensions, underscores the fragile and complex diplomatic situation between the two nations.
