TEHRAN (TheCOWNews Digital) Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern and emotionally charged response to Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian soil, warning Tel Aviv that it has “laid the foundation for its bitter and painful fate.” The remarks come just hours after Israeli fighter jets carried out a series of targeted strikes on Tehran and other key Iranian cities as part of what Israel calls a preemptive military campaign.
Speaking in a nationally televised address early Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei strongly condemned the Israeli aggression, calling it a criminal act that targeted civilian areas and revealed the “demonic nature” of the Zionist regime. His speech marks the highest-level Iranian response so far to the attack and signals a likely escalation in an already volatile situation.
“The Zionist government has committed a grave crime with blood-soaked hands by striking our beloved homeland,” Khamenei declared. “This act of evil will not go unpunished. Israel must now await a strong and decisive response.”
The Supreme Leader’s remarks were delivered with visible emotion, reflecting the national outrage felt across Iran. The Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted military and nuclear-related sites, but Iranian authorities claim that civilian residential areas were also hit, resulting in casualties among both military personnel and non-combatants. While the exact number of casualties has not been officially confirmed, unverified reports suggest that several high-ranking Iranian officials, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, were killed.
Khamenei’s speech described the Israeli strikes as an assault not just on Iran’s infrastructure but on its sovereignty and dignity. He warned that the Zionist state had “crossed a red line” and would face the consequences in ways that would be “historic and unforgettable.”
“The enemy must understand that such provocations will be met with a response that matches their severity,” he said. “We do not seek war, but we are not afraid of it either. We will make them regret this aggression.”
Iran’s leadership is now under intense pressure to respond, both domestically and regionally. While official military retaliation has not yet been announced, Iranian defense forces have been placed on high alert, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is reportedly preparing for potential action across multiple fronts, including possible missile strikes and cyber operations.
The international community is watching closely, with the United Nations and global powers urging both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. However, with tensions at a boiling point and inflammatory rhetoric from both Tehran and Tel Aviv, fears of a broader Middle East conflict are rapidly growing.
This latest confrontation adds to a series of military and political flashpoints that have destabilized the region in recent years. Ayatollah Khamenei’s statement is being interpreted by analysts as a clear signal that Iran will not allow the Israeli attack to go unanswered.
