"We will show no mercy to the Zionists" — Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
[Tehran, June 18, 2025] — The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a stern warning on Wednesday, declaring, “We will show no mercy to the Zionists (supporters of Zionism).”
Khamenei made this declaration in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), signaling a hardline stance toward Israel.
In one post, Khamenei stated, “Iran will never compromise with the Zionists.” In another, he bluntly declared: “The war has begun.”
These statements come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with fears growing of a full-scale conflict between Iran and Israel.
Just before Khamenei’s posts, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement, “America knows where Khamenei is, but we will not target him — at least for now.”
Khamenei's response is widely seen as a direct rebuttal to Trump’s remarks. Trump had also said, “Iran must surrender unconditionally.” Analysts believe Khamenei's forceful messages were meant to counter this demand.
Meanwhile, a BBC report claimed that earlier this week, Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei. This revelation has added even more weight to Khamenei’s latest warnings.
For the first time, multiple posts from his X accounts in various languages have issued such a public and explicit warning, sparking fresh alarm across the Middle East.
Observers warn that such rhetoric could push the Iran-Israel conflict further toward open war. Reactions from the United States and other Western powers are expected in the coming days.
