Iran's Khamenei Aide Urges Retaliation Against US After Nuclear Site Strikes
An adviser closely associated with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a warning of immediate counteractions against the United States following US airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites. This warning, found in Iran's hardline Kayhan newspaper, surfaces amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Hossein Shariatmadari, who serves as the managing editor of Kayhan and is a long-time confidant of Khamenei, advocated for a prompt missile attack on the US naval forces located in Bahrain and urged the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Western ships. He emphasized the urgency, stating, “It is now our turn to act without delay,” and proposed coordinated actions against American, British, German, and French maritime interests in the region.
The United States conducted airstrikes on Saturday, focusing on Iran's significant nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran. President Donald Trump described the operations as a “spectacular military success” and cautioned that even more substantial strikes would follow if Iran does not “seek peace.”
Although Khamenei has not directly addressed the US strikes, his official Telegram account shared a video from an earlier speech where he cautioned the US against involving itself in the Iran-Israel conflict. Khamenei warned, “The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm Iran will encounter.”
Iranian leaders have persistently portrayed US actions as a severe escalation, with officials warning that Tehran’s reaction will be “decisive and unavoidable.” The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil exports, threatens to cause significant geopolitical and economic disruptions.
As the calls for military action grow louder within Iran, the region remains tense, bracing for the subsequent developments in this quickly intensifying conflict.
