Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has intensified his warnings, promising a “crushing response” to adversaries of the country, including the United States, following an Israeli missile strike a week prior. In a speech broadcast by state television in Tehran, Khamenei stated, “Enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States, will undoubtedly receive a crushing response for their actions against Iran and the Resistance Front.”
Khamenei did not provide specific details but indicated that hostile actions against the Islamic Republic would not be forgotten. This appears to refer to the attack on October 26, where Israel targeted military sites in Iran, resulting in five casualties, including a civilian. Israeli defense forces employed over 100 fighter jets in the assault, although significant damage to oil or nuclear facilities was not confirmed.
These comments reflect a change from Khamenei’s initial response after Israel’s strike, which he had described as a “miscalculation.” At that time, he urged against exaggerating or underestimating the importance of the attack, refraining from making explicit threats of retaliation.
