'Nation will not bow to foreign pressure' says Iran supreme leader Khamenei
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a televised speech on Wednesday, warning the United States and Israel of 'irreparable damage' if they continue military provocations against the Islamic Republic.
Khamenei said the Iranian nation 'will never be subdued' and that any attempt at foreign military intervention would be met with full force. He declared that Iran's armed forces are prepared to defend the country and enjoy the full backing of the government.
'The Zionist regime made a grave mistake and will face consequences,' Khamenei said, referring to recent violations of Iranian airspace. 'Iran will not forgive this breach and our people will not remain silent.'
🔴 Leader: Our nation will not forsake the blood of their martyrs, nor will they remain silent in the face of violations of their airspace.
🔴 Leader: The Zionist regime made a grave mistake and will face the consequences of its actions. pic.twitter.com/do3XwiiQSX — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) June 18, 2025
He added that Iran would respond with strength to both 'imposed war' and 'imposed peace', saying the nation would not bow to threats or coercion.
'The blood of our martyrs will not be forsaken,' he said, warning that wise leaders should avoid speaking to Iran 'in a threatening tone' as history shows the Iranian people resist domination.
Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
A Washington-based human rights organisation had reported Wednesday that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes across Tehran and other populated areas has risen to around 585 killed with at least 1,326 people injured since the attacks started last week.
Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and 804 injured since Iranian missile attacks struck 40 different locations acrosss Israeli territory.
IRGC launches ' advanced weapons'
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier announced that the country had carried out fresh strikes on Israeli targets, utilising its newly developed Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles
The IRGC's statement emphasised that the Fattah-1 missile had successfully penetrated Israeli air defense systems, delivering a powerful blow to the occupying regime.
The missile's high speed and maneuverability reportedly allowed it to bypass advanced defense mechanisms, underscoring Iran's technological advancements in missile technology.
The IRGC's statement concluded with a stern warning to Israel and its allies, indicating that any retaliatory actions would be met with decisive responses.
Iran fired over 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones since June 13, the Israeli Government Press Office said in a statement.
The Iranian attacks resulted in over 40 confirmed impact sites, the office said, without specifying the exact locations.
Israeli media confirmed that the latest salvoes set off air raid sirens across the country, including in the Tel Aviv region, where explosions and fires were witnessed.
Simultaneously, explosions were also reported in Tehran and Karaj, located west of the capital.
Iran's armed forces stated on June 17 that their air defense systems remain operational, tracking and intercepting 28 'hostile aircraft' within 24 hours, including a spy drone attempting to gather intelligence on 'sensitive' locations.
These developments come in light of Trump declaring that the US now holds "complete and total control of the skies over Iran."
Additional American fighter jets have reportedly been deployed to the Middle East as tensions surge.
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei whereabouts 'known'
US President Donald Trump said June 17 that Washington knows "exactly" where Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is, saying he is safe "for now" while warning that "our patience is wearing thin."
Read: Fattah-1: Iran's hypersonic missile turns up heat on Israel's defences
"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," Trump said in a social media post. "But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The comments came just minutes after Trump claimed to have "complete and total control" of Iranian airspace.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed June 16 that the US deployed additional military assets to the Middle East, a move he and other senior Trump administration officials have maintained is "defensive" in nature amid speculation that American forces could join Israel's military campaign.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in the Middle East, where an air war between Iran and Israel has raged for six days.
In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical.
Ryabkov warned the US against direct military assistance to Israel or even considering such "speculative options," according to Russia's Interfax news agency.
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