US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites spark retaliation fears in Iraq
Shafaq News – Iraq
The recent US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities have fueled fears of retaliation inside Iraq, where Iran-backed factions maintain significant influence and American forces remain stationed.
According to The Washington Post, these factions have so far refrained from striking US positions, showing a level of restraint that analysts describe as uncharacteristic.
After years of navigating power struggles between Washington and Tehran, many of these groups have grown more autonomous—politically and economically. Now entrenched in Iraq's government, they oversee vast business empires, draw billions from public budgets, and hold unprecedented authority.
Analysts caution that any escalation involving these factions could destabilize Iraq and jeopardize their entrenched power. With so much at risk, the threat of direct retaliation may be keeping them in check—for now.
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Below are posts on X (formerly Twitter) from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on his English account leading up to and during the Israel-Iran war of June 2025. The posts collected range from June 11-25, 2025. Khamenei's English account has 2 million followers at the time of writing. For more information, please see other MEMRI CJL reports: In one of the first posts on June 11, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "Which other nation do you know of that boldly stands up to confront those world powers that are imposing their will and giving orders to others? Few nations besides ours are like that. The Europeans have trembled in the face of certain things, but not our nation." Source: Writing on June 12, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "That [Zionist] regime should anticipate a severe punishment. By God's grace, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces won't let them go unpunished." Source: The same day, his account posted: "With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see." Source: On June 13, 2025, Khamenei's account wrote: "The Zionist regime has made a big mistake, a grave error, and committed a reckless act. By God's grace, the consequences of this will bring that regime to ruin." Source: Writing on June 13, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Iranian nation won't permit the blood of its valued martyrs to go unavenged, nor will it ignore the violation of its airspace." Source: The same day, Khamenei's account wrote: "Today, we must give a strong response to the evil, despicable, terrorist Zionist identity. God willing, we will respond with strength, and will show no mercy to them." Source: Khamenei's account also posted: "Life will definitely become bitter for the Zionists." Source: Writing on June 13, Khamenei's account said: "The Iranian people are with us. They support the Armed Forces, and the Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime, by the will of God." Source: Khamenei's account quoted the Quran 61:13 with a graphic, stating: "'Help from Allah and an imminent conquest' (Holy Quran: 61:13). The Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime by the will of God." Source: On June 17, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy." Source: One of Khamenei's first posts on June 18, 2025 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." Source: Writing on June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account wrote: "The US entering in 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." Source: The same day, Khamenei's account posted: "The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily." Source: Khamenei's account also wrote: "It was already suspected that the US was involved in the malicious move carried out by the Zionist regime, but considering their recent remarks, this suspicion is growing stronger day by day." Source: On June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Iranian nation also firmly stands against any imposed peace. The Iranian nation will not capitulate to anyone in the face of coercion." Source: Writing on June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake and committed a serious crime, and it must be punished." Source: His account also posted , on June 19: "I would like to tell our dear nation that if the enemy senses that you fear them, they won't let go of you. Continue the very behavior that you have had up to this day; continue this behavior with strength" on June 19, 2025. Source: Writing on June 20, Khamenei's account posted: "The Zionist enemy is being punished. It is being punished right now." Source: Khamenei's Farsi account also posted on June 20, 2025: "The Zionist regime made a big mistake, a big error, a blunder, and the consequences of it will make it miserable, God willing. You will be miserable." Followed by the Hebrew "You will be miserable." The post include an illustration depicting fire raining down on what appear to be fleeing Israeli soldiers amid a city landscape. Source: On June 22, 2025, Khamenei's Farsi account posted an image of missiles striking a city, and a skull bearing a star of David on its forehead, writing: "The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now." Source: On the day of the ceasefire, June 23, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn't a nation that surrenders." Source:
