Iran Rejects Trump’s Call for ‘Unconditional Surrender,’ Warns U.S. Against Military Intervention
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday forcefully rejected President Donald Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender,” calling the statement unacceptable and warning of dire consequences if the United States intervenes militarily.
“This nation will never surrender to any form of coercion,” Khamenei said in a nationally televised speech. “The United States must understand that any military interference will lead to irreversible damage.”
Khamenei’s remarks came in response to Trump’s June 17 warning that U.S. patience is “running thin,” and that Iran must surrender without preconditions. “The U.S. president issued a completely unacceptable statement, openly demanding Iran’s surrender. But we say to him: threaten those who fear threats. The people of Iran are not swayed by intimidation,” Khamenei declared.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei echoed that message in an interview with Al Jazeera, stating that any American intervention would trigger a “region-wide war with devastating consequences for the entire international community.”
When asked whether the U.S. has the power to rein in Israel, Baghaei frowned and replied, “It doesn’t appear so.” He also said that Arab nations in the region are unlikely to allow the U.S. to use military bases on their soil to launch attacks against Iran.
On social media, Khamenei posted a historical image of a Muslim battle against ancient Jewish tribes, alongside a warning aimed at Israel: “We must respond forcefully to the Zionist regime. There will be no tolerance for them.”
CNN reported on June 18 that the U.S. military is preparing options for President Trump in case he orders direct support for Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
Also on Tuesday, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Ali Bahreini told reporters in Geneva that Tehran had sent a message to Washington, making clear that Iran “is ready to respond decisively to any territorial violation—whether by Israel or the United States.”
Bahreini said Iran would retaliate forcefully against Israeli strikes and “abandon all restraint” in defense of its civilians, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Fighting between Israel and Iran has shown no signs of slowing since Israel launched its surprise air campaign, “Operation Rising Lion,” on June 13. Israeli strikes have killed at least 225 people and injured around 1,480 in Iran. Tehran’s counterattacks have killed 24 and wounded over 800 in Israel.
Israel says Iran has fired more than 400 missiles and launched hundreds of drones at 40 different locations across its territory during six days of conflict, according to a June 18 statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said Israeli warplanes have carried out hundreds of strikes on more than 1,100 Iranian military targets throughout the country.
Sources: AFP, AP
