Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued fresh warnings to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters, Khamenei rejected proposals for a ceasefire or a reduction in tensions.
The official said the proposals were conveyed to Tehran by two intermediary countries, but Khamenei maintained a hardline stance.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Ceasefire Proposals, Vows Tough Stance on US and Israel
This comes after the new supreme leader on Thursday, March 12, vowed to keep up attacks on Gulf Arab countries and use the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel.
It was his first public statement since being chosen, and Mojtaba has vowed revenge for those killed in the war, particularly children in the Minab school attack, declaring that “the enemies will pay the price.”
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On his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier stated that the conflict with the US and Israel can only be resolved if Tehran’s three demands are met.
In a post on social media platform X, Masoud Pezeshkian said the conflict could only end if Iran’s “legitimate rights” are acknowledged, compensation is paid for damages, and strong international guarantees are provided to prevent future attacks.
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Iran War with Us and Israel
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said that the war with Iran may end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left” for the United States military to bomb, as Iran says it’s ready for “a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, while speaking to the media on Friday, March 14 stated that the country’s war with Iran was entering a “decisive phase” as he cautioned that it would “continue as long as necessary”.
“The global and regional struggle against Iran, led by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is escalating and entering a decisive phase that will continue as long as necessary,” Katz told military top brass in a televised statement.
“Only the Iranian people can put an end to this through a determined struggle, until the fall of the terror regime and the saving of Iran,” he added.
The US and Israel first launched an attack on Iran on 28 February, targeting its missile infrastructure, military sites, and leadership in the capital, Tehran, and across the country.
Iran appears determined to fight on despite facing superior US and Israeli firepower. It has launched missile and drone attacks against at least 10 of its neighbours and has choked off traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
