Unyielding Standoff: Ayatollah Khamenei Stands Firm on Iran's Integrity
- *
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, dismisses Iranian surrender in any aspect. - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, firmly dismisses any notion of Iran capitulating.
In a defiant televised speech, Ayatollah Khamenei, ruling since 1989, declared, "We will never cave or surrender." Iran categorically rejects any "imposed" war or peace, and any U.S. intervention would result in "catastrophic damages," the Ayatollah grimly warned.
Meanwhile, Trump left the military intervention option open in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. In a cryptic statement, he teased, "I could, I could not. Nobody knows what I'll do." The U.S. president, speaking in Washington, hinted at an eagerness for Iranian negotiations, saying, "They're facing many problems, and they want to talk." When pushed by journalists about direct contact with the Iranian leadership, he cryptically responded, "Yes."
Trump's tone towards Tehran had grown increasingly confrontational, and he consulted with his National Security Council. On his online service Truth Social, Trump posted a call for Iran's surrender alongside claims that the U.S. knew where Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding - although he clarified, "for now" there was no intention to harm him.
Experts suggest the U.S. could employ bunker-busting bombs against Iran's underground nuclear facilities, but it's unclear if Trump is prepared to take such action. Representatives of the U.S. government remained coy about their next move, stating the situation changes "hourly." Trump insists on keeping all options open.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) called on Tehran to re-enter the negotiating arena. "It's never too late to sit down and talk if you're sincere," he said in Berlin.
Israel unleashed a major assault on Iran last Friday, bombing nuclear facilities and military installations in the country, killing several high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran launched rocket and drone attacks on targets in Israel.
Explosions rocked Tehran on Wednesday, with smoke clouds hovering over the city. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that fighter jets had destroyed the headquarters for internal security in Iran, targeting "the most significant repression tool of the Iranian dictator" Khamenei. The Israeli military had previously reported attacks on "military targets" in Tehran.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Israeli fighter jets allegedly attacked additional targets in the Tehran area. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that two buildings in the suburb of Karaj, where centrifuge components were produced, were destroyed. A building in Tehran, where modern centrifuge rotors were produced and tested, was also struck.
Centrifuges are critical for producing nuclear fuel and weapons. Western states and Israel accuse Iran of ramping up its uranium enrichment to build an atomic bomb. Tehran vehemently denies these allegations.
Iran showcased its military might on Wednesday, launching hypersonic missiles at Israel for the first time. These missiles are known for their high speed and maneuverability, making them difficult to intercept. The Revolutionary Guards claimed the missiles were aimed at Tel Aviv. No direct hits were reported, but Israel's air defenses were active during the night. Israel's army reported intercepting ten Iranian drones.
Other countries are working to evacuate their citizens from the conflict zone. The Foreign Office announced in the afternoon that a special flight carrying 171 people had departed the region, with plans for another evacuation flight on Thursday.
- Iran
- Ali Khamenei
- Surrender
- USA
- Donald Trump
- Israel
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Tehran
- Conflict
- US President
- Washington
- Appeal
- Internal Security
- Nuclear Program
- Military
- The United States, under Donald Trump's presidency, has been increasingly confrontational towards Iran, with Trump alluding to the possibility of intervention and posting calls for Iran's surrender on his online service.
- The European Union, committed to the UN Charter and the UN Charter, might find itself entangled in the war-and-conflicts and politics of the general-news, as Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul appeals for Iran to re-enter negotiations and avoid escalating the conflict with Israel.
