 "'If they commit any mischief...': Khamenei warns US amid tensions over nuclear threats")
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned that the US would receive a “strong blow” if it follows through on President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb unless Tehran agrees to a new nuclear deal.
Trump reiterated his threat on Sunday, stating that Iran would be bombed if it does not accept his offer for negotiations, which was detailed in a letter sent to Iranian leaders in early March, giving Tehran a two-month timeframe to respond.
On Monday, Iran conveyed a warning through Switzerland’s embassy, which represents US interests and acts as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, according to state media. In this warning, Tehran asserted its commitment to respond “decisively and immediately” to any threats.
“The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow,” Reuters quoted Khamenei as saying.
“And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them,” he added.
Iranian authorities attribute recent unrest, including the 2022-2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini — a young woman detained for allegedly violating hijab rules — and the nationwide protests in 2019 over fuel price increases, to the West.
Last week, Iran addressed the US letter, with President Masoud Pezeshkian stating on Sunday that Tehran would not engage in direct negotiations with Washington but was open to continuing indirect talks as directed by Khamenei.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“An open threat of ‘bombing’ by a head of state against Iran is a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei tweeted on Monday.
“Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace. The US can choose the course and concede to consequences.”
Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Commander Amirali Hajizadeh warned US forces in the Middle East, stating, “Americans have at least 10 bases and 50,000 troops in the region. They are in a glass house and should not throw stones.”
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reinstated sweeping sanctions. Since then, Iran has significantly exceeded the deal’s uranium enrichment limits.
Western powers accuse Iran of secretly aiming to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to levels they claim exceed what is necessary for a civilian energy programme. Tehran insists its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes.
With inputs from agencies
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