Iran’s Khamenei Warns Israel of Severe Retaliation \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vows “severe punishment” after Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran. The strikes reportedly killed senior military figures and nuclear scientists at strategic sites. Tensions skyrocket between the two nations amid escalating regional conflict.
Quick Looks
- Supreme Leader Khamenei brands Israel’s attacks as a “crime,” pledging harsh retaliation.
- Airstrikes eliminated top Revolutionary Guard officials and nuclear scientists, targeting strategic infrastructure.
- Israel justifies actions as preemptive defense against Iran’s nuclear ambitions; U.S. urges calm.
Deep Look
Tensions in the Middle East escalated to a dangerous new level early Friday when Israel launched a series of targeted airstrikes on Iran’s capital, Tehran, an act that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described as a “wicked” crime that would trigger “severe punishment.” The Israeli operation reportedly struck multiple high-value sites, including nuclear research facilities, military compounds, and residential areas housing senior defense personnel.
The airstrikes killed key figures in Iran’s defense and scientific establishments, including General Hossein Salami, the commander of the elite Revolutionary Guard. Iranian state media confirmed Salami’s death, calling it an act of assassination, and also reported the deaths of another high-ranking Guard official and two prominent nuclear scientists. These deaths mark a significant loss for Iran’s security infrastructure and are widely seen as the most aggressive strike on Iranian soil since the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War.
Khamenei’s response was swift and severe. Speaking through the state-run IRNA news agency, he accused Israel of revealing its “malicious nature more than ever” by launching a coordinated attack that not only targeted military assets but also struck residential zones. His vow of “severe punishment” signaled a likely military or asymmetric response from Iran, which could include cyberattacks, drone strikes, or mobilization of proxy forces across the region.
Strategic Targets and Escalation
According to Israeli officials, the decision to strike was based on intelligence that Iran was nearing a critical threshold in nuclear weapons development. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacks were necessary to neutralize what he described as an “imminent threat.” He also issued a warning: Israel’s campaign would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” In his address, Netanyahu emphasized that the strikes focused on nuclear sites and weapons storage facilities linked to Iran’s growing ballistic missile arsenal.
In retaliation planning, Iran has already placed its military on high alert. Airspaces over Iran, Israel, and parts of Iraq were closed shortly after the attacks, and multiple global airlines rerouted flights away from the region. Missile defenses were activated in both countries, and sporadic explosions were heard hours later in Tehran—though it remains unclear whether these were part of a second wave or the aftermath of air defense activity.
International Fallout and U.S. Position
The U.S., while reiterating its support for Israel’s right to self-defense, distanced itself from the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in planning or executing the strikes, and issued a caution to Iran: Any retaliatory action against U.S. personnel or infrastructure would be met with a strong response. The Biden administration, which had been working to deescalate tensions through diplomatic backchannels, has now shifted focus to safeguarding American assets across the Middle East.
President Donald Trump, who was seen mingling with lawmakers on the White House lawn as the first reports of the attack surfaced, declined immediate comment. Earlier, he had urged Netanyahu to delay any military action in favor of continued diplomatic negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities. “As long as I think there is a chance for an agreement, I don’t want them going in,” Trump had told reporters just days before the strike.
Nuclear Program at the Forefront
The Israeli offensive coincides with mounting global anxiety over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors issued its first formal censure of Iran in two decades, citing non-cooperation with nuclear inspections. In response, Tehran announced it would begin operations at a third uranium enrichment facility and replace existing centrifuges with more advanced models capable of faster enrichment.
Western intelligence assessments suggest Iran has amassed sufficient nuclear material for several bombs, but also stress that Iran has not yet developed a deliverable nuclear warhead. Still, the Israeli government has made it clear that it will not wait for definitive proof before taking military action.
Regional Ripple Effects
The reverberations of this strike are likely to be felt well beyond Israel and Iran. Iran’s regional allies—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, and Houthi rebels in Yemen—may respond on Tehran’s behalf, raising the risk of proxy warfare across multiple countries. In anticipation, Israel has declared an emergency on the home front, and advised its citizens to adhere strictly to defense and shelter instructions.
Crude oil markets reacted instantly. Brent crude surged nearly 5% following news of the Israeli strikes, reflecting global concerns over potential disruptions to energy supplies in the event of an extended conflict or attacks on regional oil infrastructure.
What’s Next?
While the immediate damage from the Israeli airstrikes is still being assessed, the broader question remains: how will Iran respond? With the loss of top commanders and scientists, Iran’s leadership is under intense pressure to retaliate—both to restore national pride and to deter further incursions. The possibility of a full-scale war is now more real than it has been in years.
Meanwhile, the international community is urging both sides to exercise restraint. The United Nations, European Union, and other global powers have called for emergency diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed.
As Iran prepares its next move, and Israel maintains a defensive posture, the world watches anxiously. What began as a targeted military operation could now evolve into a wider conflict with global implications.
Iran’s Khamenei
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