Khamenei warns US: ‘If attacked, we will respond without hesitation’

Iran’s Supreme Leader reiterates determination to defend national security and condemns new US oil sanctions

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning to the US, declaring that Iran is ready to respond to any threat or hostile action. Speaking to army commanders, the Supreme Leader criticised American strategies, calling them disconnected from reality.

‘The Americans redraw the map of the world only on paper, without any concrete basis. If they threaten us, we will threaten them. If they implement their threats, we will implement ours. And if they attack our nation’s security, we will attack their security without hesitation,’ Khamenei said.

The Iranian leader went on to reject any possibility of negotiations with Washington, stating that ‘no problem will be solved by sitting at the table with the US’. He pointed out that previous attempts at dialogue with America had turned out to be ‘unintelligent, unwise and unhonourable’, suggesting that Tehran does not intend to repeat the same mistakes.

Meanwhile, Iran has strongly condemned the new financial sanctions imposed by the US against companies accused of selling Iranian oil to China. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the measure ‘illegitimate, unjustified and contrary to international rules’.

‘The new US administration’s decision to exert pressure on the Iranian nation by preventing legal trade with its economic partners is a violent and illegal measure,’ Baqaei added, stressing how Washington continues to use economic sanctions as a weapon of political coercion.

Tensions between Iran and the US therefore remain high, with Tehran determined to defend its sovereignty and resist the economic pressure imposed by Washington. In the background, the situation in the Middle East remains incandescent, with the risk of new escalation between the two powers.

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