Tehran, June 23 — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern message following a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, declaring that the “Zionist regime” is facing retribution for what he called a grave provocation.
“The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished—and it is being punished, right now,” Khamenei posted on X, in a statement interpreted as both a warning and a justification for Iran's retaliatory actions.
His remarks came in the aftermath of a coordinated Israeli offensive on Iranian military infrastructure, including key missile launch and storage facilities. The Israeli strikes, launched Sunday, coincided with a large-scale U.S. military operation targeting three critical nuclear installations in Iran—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—as part of what Washington has termed “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
According to Iranian media, the Israeli assault extended to civilian areas, including an airstrike that struck an ambulance in central Iran, reportedly killing three people. In retaliation, Iran launched a new barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, with over 80 individuals reportedly injured in the latest wave of attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have described the strikes on Iran’s nuclear program as “obliterating” and urged Tehran to choose the path of peace or face even more forceful consequences.
Following the American airstrikes, Khamenei issued a grave warning to Washington: “Americans should expect greater damage and blows than ever before.”
Khamenei in Seclusion Amid Fears of Assassination
Sources familiar with internal Iranian deliberations told The New York Times that Ayatollah Khamenei, 86, is currently in seclusion at a fortified underground bunker, due to growing concerns over a potential assassination attempt. He is reportedly communicating with senior commanders only through a trusted intermediary and has suspended all electronic communications as a security precaution.
In a move that underscores the gravity of the moment, Khamenei is said to have made contingency arrangements across the upper ranks of the military, appointing replacements for senior officers killed in the strikes. He has also reportedly named three senior clerics as possible successors, should his own position be compromised.
According to officials cited by the Times, Khamenei has taken the unusual step of instructing Iran’s Assembly of Experts—the clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader—to act swiftly and choose his successor from among the three names he has personally selected.
Unprecedented Assault
The recent wave of Israeli airstrikes represents the most intense military action Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. The attacks have inflicted extensive damage, with reports suggesting the elimination of several high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists, as well as significant setbacks to Iran’s nuclear program.
The unfolding developments mark a dangerous inflection point in the long-standing conflict between Iran and Israel, with regional and global powers closely watching the potential for further escalation.
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