Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning on Saturday, threatening Israel and the United States with a “crushing response” in retaliation for attacks on Iran and its allies.
This statement comes amid escalating tensions following an October 26 airstrike by Israel that targeted Iranian military bases, resulting in the deaths of at least five people.
Khamenei’s remarks reflect Iran’s increasing willingness to retaliate after a series of military exchanges.
The recent Israeli strikes followed an earlier attack by Iran, in which it launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1. While the rockets prompted many Israelis to seek shelter, they caused only minor damage and resulted in the death of one Palestinian man in the West Bank.
Khamenei warned, “The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and the resistance front.”
He did not specify when or how Iran would respond, but the United States has increased its military presence in the region in anticipation of potential conflict.
In response to the heightened tensions, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional military assets to the area, including destroyers, fighter squadrons, tankers, and B-52 bombers.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is currently in the Arabian Sea, enhancing deterrence against Iran and its allied militant groups.
While Khamenei had previously taken a more measured tone, stating that officials would consider Iran’s response and that Israel’s attacks “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” the destruction of military installations near Tehran related to Iran’s ballistic missile program has intensified calls for action.
Iran’s proxy forces, collectively referred to as the “Axis of Resistance,” have also suffered significant setbacks from ongoing Israeli strikes, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. These groups, often utilised by Iran to exert influence and conduct asymmetrical warfare against Israel, are reportedly urging Iran to take more decisive military action on their behalf.
The conflict has escalated dramatically since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages.
Israel has since responded with a full-scale military operation against Hamas and has increased attacks on Hezbollah.
As Iran navigates this precarious landscape, it also grapples with domestic challenges, including an economy strained by international sanctions and widespread protests.
Following Khamenei’s speech, the Iranian rial fell to 691,50, which was also grappleslar, nearing an all-time low, down from 32,000 rials to the dollar at the time of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has warned that its response to attacks will be “wise, powerful, and beyond the enemy’s comprehension.”
Khamenei’s comments were made during a meeting with university students, where he was met with enthusiastic support, including chants of loyalty. The meeting coincided with the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, which has shaped Iran’s relationship with the U.S. and is marked by ongoing hostility between the two nations.
