In his first public response following the US airstrikes on Tehran’s key nuclear facilities, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed continued retaliation against Israel, referring to it as the ‘Zionist enemy.’ The remarks come amid rapidly escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
“The Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake and committed a major crime. It must be punished – and it is being punished right now,” Khamenei declared. Accompanying his statement, the Iranian leader posted a graphic image of airstrikes featuring a skull marked with a Star of David on its forehead – a symbol widely associated with Israel and Judaism.
The comments follow Iran’s launch of its heaviest missile barrage yet, just hours after U.S. forces struck Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan on Sunday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it fired at least 40 missiles in response, including the Khorramshahr-4, Iran’s most advanced missile capable of carrying large warheads.
Earlier, Hossein Shariatmadari, a senior aide to Khamenei and editor of Iran’s Kayhan newspaper, warned of immediate retaliation. “It is now our turn to act without delay,” he said, calling for a missile strike on the U.S. naval fleet in Bahrain and urging the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to American and European ships.
The conflict intensified following Israel’s launch of ‘Operation Rising Lion’ on June 13, targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Iran has since retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks aimed at Israeli cities.
The United States officially entered the conflict on Sunday with coordinated airstrikes using B-2 stealth bombers, F-22 Raptors, F-35A Lightning fighters, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs to target Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites. The Fordow facility, one of Iran’s most secretive and secure, was among the primary targets.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first remarks after the military action, issued a stark warning to Tehran: “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must choose peace. If not, future strikes will be far greater and faster. We can eliminate most targets in minutes with precision and power.”
The crisis continues to evolve, with fears mounting over the potential for a wider regional conflict.
