Amid soaring regional tensions, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned the United States to expect “greater damage and blows than ever before” following American airstrikes on the country’s nuclear infrastructure.
The warning comes as prominent Iranian voices urge a forceful response. Hossein Shariatmadari, Khamenei’s representative and a senior figure in Tehran’s political establishment, called for immediate retaliatory action. “It is now our turn to act without delay,” he said. “As a first step, we must launch a missile strike on the US naval fleet in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French ships.”
The statements mark a dangerous new chapter in the rapidly escalating confrontation between Iran and the West, following US President Donald Trump’s confirmation that B-2 stealth bombers had struck three major Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — in what he described as a “spectacular military success.”
In a warning addressed directly to Tehran, Trump said, “Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight. Thank you!”
While the White House maintains that the strikes were designed to degrade Iran’s nuclear capacity and deter further proliferation, Tehran has interpreted the operation as an act of war, heightening fears of a wider conflict in the region.
Also read: ‘War begins now’: Iran reacts to US bombing its nuclear sites
Iranian state media sought to reassure citizens in the immediate aftermath of the bombings, reporting “no danger” to residents and stating that the situation was “under control”. The messaging, however, was at sharp odds with the furious rhetoric coming from Iran’s top leadership and military circles.
On Sunday, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation reiterated its commitment to the country’s nuclear development programme. “The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil plots of its enemies … it will not let the path of development of this national industry (nuclear), which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped,” a statement said.
Iranian hardliners have long regarded the nuclear programme as a symbol of national sovereignty and technological achievement. The targeted destruction of its facilities — particularly the fortified Fordow site — is likely to deepen calls for direct confrontation with the United States and its allies.
Meanwhile, analysts warned that Iran’s threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor through which nearly one-fifth of global oil passes, could trigger severe economic repercussions worldwide.
Whether Khamenei’s vow translates into a broader military escalation or remains a calculated warning remains to be seen. But with US and allied forces across the region on high alert, the risk of rapid miscalculation is dangerously high.
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