Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday said that Israel’s reliance on the United States amid escalating conflict in the region was a clear sign of its “weakness and defeat,” asserting that Iran will continue to respond “strongly and decisively” to Israeli aggression.
“The enemy should be treated the way he deserves,” Khamenei said in a televised address to senior military and religious officials in Tehran.
“If the enemy senses fear in you, they will not stop. They will press further. That is their nature.”
Khamenei’s remarks come days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at possible U.S. involvement in Israel’s military response to Iran, stating that American support was a matter for President Trump to decide.
However, the Iranian leader dismissed such appeals for international support as desperation. “Calling on America for help is not a sign of strength — it is a reflection of Israel’s internal collapse and fear,” Khamenei said.
Netanyahu warns no one in Iran is immune; Khamenei top target
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that “no one is immune” in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a direct Iranian missile strike on Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva earlier in the day.
Touring the damaged hospital facility, Netanyahu told reporters that all options remain on the table and that Israel would respond with force if necessary. “No one is immune,” the premier said. “All the options are open.”
While Netanyahu avoided giving explicit details, he acknowledged that the possibility of striking Iran’s top leadership is not off the table. “It’s best not to speak about this in the press,” he added.
The remarks mark a shift in tone from Netanyahu, who has typically maintained strategic ambiguity about Israel’s intentions regarding high-profile Iranian figures. In contrast, Defence Minister Israel Katz has taken a more direct line, publicly calling for the elimination of Khamenei earlier this week and comparing him to a “modern Hitler.”
Speaking alongside medical personnel at Soroka Hospital, which sustained considerable damage during the Iranian missile barrage, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s resolve. “At the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat on Israel, and there won’t be a ballistic threat,” he said.
Referring to the broader geopolitical implications, Netanyahu said U.S. involvement in the conflict would remain a sovereign decision for Washington. “That’s a decision for President Trump,” he said. “He will do what is good for America, and I will do what’s good for Israel. He knows the game.”
Netanyahu’s comments came hours after an unprecedented missile assault launched from Iranian territory hit several sites across Israel, with Soroka Medical Center suffering a direct impact. At least 50 people were injured across multiple locations, and emergency crews continued operations into the night.
In an emotional note, Netanyahu also disclosed that the war had taken a personal toll. “All of us are paying a personal price,” he said, revealing that his son had cancelled a planned wedding due to the ongoing conflict.
Iran’s powerful Guardian Council issues sharp warning
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iran’s powerful Guardian Council issued a sharp warning in response to growing threats from Israeli officials. In a statement, the Council urged the United States to avoid supporting any attempt to target Khamenei.
“If Trump thinks of attacking, such a storm will arise that will destroy everyone,” the statement warned. The Council accused the Israeli leadership of pushing the region toward a dangerous escalation and said any direct action against the Supreme Leader would trigger consequences “beyond imagination.”
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