Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened the United States and Israel with a “crushing response” on Saturday over Israel’s recent attack on the Islamic Republic.
“The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front,” Khamenei, 85, said in footage published by Iranian state media.
Khamenei’s remarks come on the heels of Israel’s Oct. 26 attack on Iranian military targets in response to Iran firing ballistic missiles at the Jewish state on Oct. 1. Speaking to the Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen, a top adviser to Khamenei said on Saturday that Iran has the capability to build a nuclear weapon and is prepared to reconsider its policy against pursuing one if facing an “existential threat.”
Khamenei did not say in his Saturday remarks when Iran would carry out its “crushing response” to the U.S. and Israel.
Throughout the Middle East, the U.S. military operates on various bases. Some U.S. military troops are manning a ground-based interceptor system that strikes down ballistic missiles in Israel.
Iran launched direct attacks on Israel in April and October. Iran’s allies, however, particularly Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are reeling following attacks by Israel and successful operations by the Jewish state to target leaders of the terrorist groups.
Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said he is hopeful Iran will not retaliate.
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“They already threw the kitchen sink at Israel twice, and for the most part, were ineffective and were fortunate that Israel responded in such limited ways,” O’Hanlon told the Washington Examiner on Saturday. “They prefer what they do best, covert and proxy war, I think.”
In July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it’s “resolutely” the policy of the U.S. to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. It is believed that Iran prefers Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election over former President Donald Trump.