Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has issued a stern warning of a “crushing response” to Israel and the United States in retaliation for recent attacks on Iran and its allies. Addressing students in Tehran on Saturday, Khamenei cautioned against further actions targeting Iran, referring specifically to Israel’s October 26 strike on Iranian military sites.
“The enemies, be it the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will certainly face a crushing response for what they are doing to Iran, the Iranian people, and the resistance front,” Khamenei declared, using a term that includes Tehran-backed groups like Yemen’s Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas.
While previously urging restraint in response to Israeli strikes, Khamenei emphasized that Iran is preparing militarily and politically for any escalation. “We will certainly do whatever is necessary to fortify the Iranian nation, whether in military readiness, armament, or political positioning. Thanks to Allah, our officials are already actively working on this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United States recently bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, signaling readiness to counter potential threats from Tehran. Concerns are mounting that increased hostilities could ignite a broader regional conflict.
