


Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued his first statement on Sunday following the U.S.’s bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, in which he did not directly address the military operation launched by President Donald Trump.
In a short X post, Khamenei focused his attention on Israel, which he said has made a “big mistake” as strikes on the regime continued over the weekend.
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“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,” the ayatollah posted.
Khamenei’s statement omits the U.S. bombing of his regime’s key nuclear enrichment sites, specifically the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. While damage at the facilities is still being assessed, Trump said that B-2 bombers equipped with bunker-buster bombs and a U.S. submarine with Tomahawk missiles “completely and totally obliterated” them.
Despite Khamenei not commenting on the strikes, Iranian officials have signaled a response is coming.
At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council earlier on Sunday, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said the regime’s armed forces will decide the “timing, nature, and scale of Iran’s proportionate response.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said the strikes “will have everlasting consequences” and that Iran is reserving “all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
Khamenei’s focus on Israel comes as the Israeli military has largely decimated the regime’s top military leadership and nuclear scientists in the now 10-day war.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces announced new strikes targeting an Iranian missile commander center, missile launchers, a UAV command center, a UAV storage facility, and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ballistic missile engine production site.
Israel has also left open the possibility of going after Khamenei himself.
Just before the weekend, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz hinted that assassinating the ayatollah should be part of their attack plans, calling him the “modern Hitler.”
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While Trump previously vetoed a “credible plan” by Israel to kill Khamenei last weekend, the U.S. president has taunted the ayatollah and hinted at the possibility of regime change on Sunday.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.