Tehran: Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking American military bases in the Middle East, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, in his first televised remarks since a ceasefire was reached between Iran and Israel. He was speaking from an undisclosed location, reported Reuters. The remarks come amid heightened tensions following a dramatic escalation of hostilities between Iran and the United States earlier this month.
Khamenei, 86, claimed victory after 12 days of war, culminating in an Iranian attack on the largest US base in the region, located in Qatar. “We slapped America once, and we will do it again if necessary,” Khamenei said, referring to Iran’s missile strike on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. “If the Americans repeat their mistakes, the response will be harsher, more widespread, and more damaging,” he cautioned.
In his pre-recorded remarks, aired on state television, Khamenei promised that Iran would not surrender despite Trump’s calls. “The US President Trump unveiled the truth and made it clear that Americans won’t be satisfied with anything less than surrender… such an event will never happen,” Khamenei said.
The Iranian leader’s comments come just days after a temporary ceasefire took hold between Iran and Israel, following two weeks of escalating military actions. During that period, Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory missile strikes by Iran on US bases in the region. The U.S. had supported the Israeli operation, further angering Tehran.
Khamenei dismissed U.S. claims that Iranian nuclear capabilities had been severely crippled in the strikes. “What America destroyed can and will be rebuilt. What they haven’t understood is that Iran’s power is not just in its facilities, but in its resolve,” he was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
He also reaffirmed Iran’s stance on maintaining its sovereignty and resisting external pressure. “Iran will never surrender to intimidation. If they think we fear their military might, they are gravely mistaken,” Khamenei added.
US officials have so far not responded directly to Khamenei’s latest remarks. However, military commanders in the region have reportedly been placed on heightened alert, particularly in Qatar, Iraq, and Bahrain—countries where major US military assets are stationed.
The international community has urged both sides to exercise restraint, fearing a broader conflict that could engulf the already volatile Middle East. However, with both Iran and the U.S. refusing to back down, diplomatic solutions appear elusive for now.
