“The Zionist regime carried out with its evil and bloody hand a crime in our dear country and revealed its wicked nature further by hitting residential areas…The regime should await a harsh response,” Khamenei said.
Iran has vowed severe retaliation following Israeli airstrikes that hit its capital, Tehran, and other cities early Friday, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. The strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and key military installations in what Israel called a “pre-emptive” move to halt Iran’s nuclear advancement.
Responding to the attack, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, condemned the assault and issued a stern warning. “The Zionist regime carried out with its evil and bloody hand a crime in our dear country… The regime should await a harsh response,” Khamenei said, according to state news agency IRNA.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces, blamed the United States for supporting the attack. “Israel will pay a heavy price,” he told state media. Tensions remain high as the region braces for possible military escalation following one of the most direct confrontations between Israel and Iran in recent history.