Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has asserted that his country will not accept US President Donald Trump’s call for an unconditional surrender.
In just a few days of war, Israel has killed more than a dozen of Iran’s top nuclear scientists, taken out much of its top military hierarchy and attacked key parts of its nuclear programme.
In his televised remarks, Khamenei said that peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic.
He stated that Iran will stand firm against “an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace.” He added, “This nation will not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition.”
“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.
“The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Also, the Iranian Supreme leader vowed that his country would show “no mercy” towards Israel’s rulers. “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime,” he noted.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Khamenei.
Meanwhile, US President, Donald Trump is reportedly considering entering the Israel-Iran conflict and joining Israel’s strikes on Iran.
It was said that only the Americans have a bomb capable of destroying the Fordo nuclear facility, which is located deep underground, and could be one potential target for the US.
According to reports, at least 30 US military tanker aircraft, which are used to refuel fighter jets and bombers, have been flown to Europe in the past three days.
The US has also ordered a second carrier group, the USS Nimitz, to the Middle East, part of preparations experts say would be necessary for the strike.
On Tuesday, Trump’s appetite for diplomacy appeared to be waning. “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate with Iran,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, returning early from the Group of 7 summit in Canada to the focus on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict
Trump added that his objective in Iran was “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.”
He then posted on Truth Social, calling for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” adding that the US knew the location of Iran’s supreme leader, but it would not kill him “for now.”
A news agency reported that Trump’s new “more hawkish posture” represents a significant shift in Trump’s stance. It is also dividing his advisers.
However, the outlet added that sources said the US President “remains open to a diplomatic solution – if Iran makes significant concessions.”
Iran To Respond ‘Without Restraint’ To Israeli Strikes
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini stated that Iran will respond to Israeli strikes “strongly” and “without restraint.” He added, “We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land.”
Separately, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei said in an interview that any direct engagement by a third country in the war between Israel and Iran would be an invitation to a full-scale conflict that “would engulf all the region and even will go beyond that.”
He stressed that Iran is “for the time being” focused on targeting Israeli territory only and it trusts its neighbours would not allow the US to use their territory for attacks against it.
He pointed out that Iran is willing to engage in dialogue with the US, saying, “Diplomacy never ends,” but added that Tehran no longer trusts Washington.
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