Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a stern warning to the US and Israel, promising a “crushing response” following an Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets a week ago. Speaking to students in Tehran ahead of the 45th anniversary of the 1979 US Embassy takeover, Khamenei’s comments come as Iran considers how to respond to the escalation.
The recent tensions began with an Iranian missile strike on Israel, allegedly in retaliation for the targeted killings of leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas—both Iranian-backed groups. Israel’s response reportedly inflicted significant damage on Iran’s missile and air defense systems, though Iran has not publicly acknowledged this. Four Iranian soldiers were reportedly killed in the 26 October attack.
Khamenei condemned both Israel and the US, warning that Iran’s adversaries “will definitely receive a crushing response.” His remarks also highlighted Iran’s “axis of resistance,” a coalition of Iran-aligned groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and other regional factions, many of which are designated as terrorist entities by the West.
Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza and Lebanon have intensified regional hostilities. After Hamas-led attacks last year killed 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 hostages into Gaza, Israel launched an extensive operation in Gaza. According to the territory’s health ministry, over 43,300 people have died. Hostilities with Hezbollah also escalated in September, with Israel aiming to secure its northern borders amid cross-border rocket and drone attacks, which have led to over 2,800 casualties in Lebanon and displaced 1.2 million.
US-Iran relations, strained since the 1979 embassy hostage crisis, remain a complex backdrop to the current conflict.
