Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a sharp warning to the United States and Israel, amid mounting tensions over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Speaking on state television, Khamenei praised the Iranian people’s readiness to confront powerful adversaries, saying, “The fact that our nation is ready to face the power of the United States and its dog on a leash, the Zionist regime, is very praiseworthy.” He referenced Iran’s recent missile strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as “just the beginning,” cautioning that a more severe response could follow if provoked again.
Khamenei’s remarks come at a time when Western powers are intensifying calls for renewed nuclear negotiations with Iran, while also weighing the reimposition of sanctions. Tensions escalated further after Israeli airstrikes reportedly damaged key Iranian military and nuclear facilities, including a significant hit on the Fordow nuclear site in June. While US intelligence agencies believe these attacks could delay Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years, they also note that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities have remained largely unaffected.
Experts warn that Iran retains considerable military power despite these setbacks. Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and editor of the Long War Journal, estimates that Iran still possesses approximately 1,500 medium-range ballistic missiles and around half of its original launch systems. This enduring capability underlines the risk of further escalation in the region if diplomatic efforts fail to de-escalate the standoff.
