In a blunt message to US President Donald Trump, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not surrender and warned that any American military intervention would be accompanied by irreparable damage.
In a televised message on Wednesday, a day after Trump called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" amid its conflict with Israel, Khamenei said Tehran would stand firm against an "imposed war".
"Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender, and Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage," the Supreme Leader said.
'WILL STAND FIRM AGAINST IMPOSED WAR'
Doubling down on his warning to Israel's "terrorist Zionist regime", Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic.
"The Iranian nation will stand firm against an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace, and this nation will not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition," the Supreme Leader said, brazening it out despite losing his top military and security advisers to Israeli strikes.
Minutes later, Khamenei, who is believed to have taken shelter in a bunker, reiterated in an X post that Iran won't be frightened by the US President's threats."The US entering this matter (war) is 100% to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter," the Supreme Leader said.
"The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats," he further said.
TRUMP SEEKS IRAN'S SURRENDER
While the US has so far not been directly involved in Israel's 'Rising Lion', a military operation to snuff out Iran's nuclear program, Trump has indicated that America's patience was wearing thin.
While seeking Iran's "unconditional surrender", Trump said the US knew exactly where Khamenei was "hiding", but it had no immediate intention to "take him out".
"He (Khamenei) is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," Trump posted on Truth Social.
The string of remarks by Trump came as he left the G7 Summit in Canada a day early, triggering speculation that the US might intervene militarily in the conflict.
WAR ENTERS SIXTH DAY
Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to trade missiles for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, leaving over 600 dead. Iran has suffered the maximum damage, with the Health Ministry putting the death toll at 585.
Earlier in the day, Iran claimed to have fired the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Israel, the first in the ongoing conflict. Explosions were also heard in Tel Aviv, with Israel claiming that Iranian attacks have resulted in 24 deaths and over 1,300 injuries in the so far. Israel's strikes on Wednesday were mostly centred around Tehran.