Amid a spiraling Israel-Iran conflict and direct threats from the US, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a rare public statement from an undisclosed location. In a message aimed at both the Iranian people and the country’s adversaries, Khamenei declared that Tehran “will never surrender,” countering mounting international pressure.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Khamenei directly addressed the US, cautioning:

"The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily."

The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025

Referring to President Trump’s threats, Khamenei added:

"The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats."

The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him.
They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025

The Ayatollah further warned that any damage inflicted on the US would exceed whatever Iran may endure, stating:

"The US entering in this matter [war] is 100% to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter."

The US entering in this matter [war] is 100% to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025

Trump’s Ultimatum: “We Know Where He’s Hiding”

US President Donald Trump responded with sharp warnings of his own. In a post on Truth Social, Trump delivered an ultimatum, stating that Khamenei must "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" or face consequences.

pic.twitter.com/4sy7jjESGk
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 17, 2025

"He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers," Trump wrote, implying that patience in Washington was rapidly waning.

Trump’s post also carried a chilling reminder:

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding."

pic.twitter.com/VoUY2xVnyK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 17, 2025

Repeated Warnings from Trump

In the days leading up to Khamenei’s message, Trump issued a series of aggressive statements. He claimed to have given Iran multiple chances to strike a deal and emphasized the overwhelming military strength of the US and Israel.

"I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done," Trump said.

"I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it."

Referring to past confrontations, Trump added:

"Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!"

I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to "just do it," but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or…
— Trump Posts on X (@trump_repost) June 13, 2025

The Escalating Military Conflict

Tensions increased sharply on Friday when Israel executed a series of targeted airstrikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites. Iran subsequently responded with a widespread, multi-pronged missile attack against Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

While many missiles launched by Iranian forces were intended to strike urban areas, Israel claimed to be targeting regime targets and avoided attacking civilians. However, the Israeli Defence Minister did have a message for the people of Tehran. However, the Israeli Defence Minister issued a warning to residents of Tehran. Nevertheless, the Israeli Defence Minister issued a cautionary note to Tehran’s residents.

"While there is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does against the residents of Israel, the residents of Tehran will be forced to pay the price of dictatorship and evacuate their homes from areas where it will be necessary to attack regime targets and security infrastructure in Tehran. We will continue to protect the residents of Israel," said Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Iran Unleashes Hypersonic Missiles

In a further escalation, Iran launched a new wave of missile strikes using hypersonic weapons. On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader posted:

"In the name of God, the battle begins," adding, "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy."

We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime.
We will show the Zionists no mercy.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 17, 2025

Iran's elite military (Revolutionary Guard Corps) said that it used the future Fattah-1 hypersonic missile in its strikes against Israeli cities. The group said in an official release,

"The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 used Fattah-1 missiles."

Hypersonic missiles fly at Mach 5 and above which allows them to evade the majority of missile defense systems, and with very little time to strike.

Global Alignments: G7 and US Stand with Israel

The conflict has produced significant global reactions. The G7 countries, including France and Germany, issued individual public statements backing Israel, confirming their collective opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Washington took a similar position and stated that Iran should not be permitted to have nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

The Nuclear Concern: Iran’s Enrichment Levels

While Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes, American and Israeli intelligence agencies assert that Tehran is nearing weapons-grade uranium levels.

Steve Witkoff, US Special Envoy to the Middle East, recently explained:

"For civilian purposes, 3.67 per cent uranium enrichment is enough.

Tehran has already gone far beyond that."

Current enrichment levels in Iran are reportedly around 60 percent — just a short technical step from the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear weapon.

"This cannot be allowed," Witkoff had warned in April.

President Trump had echoed his views at the time, stating:

"Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. These are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

The Trigger: Israel’s Attack on Enrichment Facilities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the initial Friday airstrikes by citing Iran’s rapid progress toward nuclear armament.

Netanyahu stated that the offensive was a necessary step, as Tehran was “dangerously close to developing the bomb.”

Since then, Tel Aviv has continued to target the uranium enrichment sites of Teheran in order to halt its progress.

A Region on the Edge

The escalating tensions between the US, Iran, and Israel represent one of the most tense moments in Middle Eastern geopolitics for years. With hypersonic missiles zooming about and nuclear anxiety on the rise, the threat of a wider regional war is real.

Iran’s vow of resistance, Trump’s blunt threats, and Israel’s continuing strikes present a dangerous triangle of tension — one that the international community now scrambles to defuse before irreparable damage, as Khamenei warned, becomes a grim reality.

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