Iran supreme leader responds to Trump: ‘We will never surrender’
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early Wednesday declared his nation "will never surrender" to threats from Israel's allies, including President Trump, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“It isn’t wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender," Khamenei said in a post on social platform X. "What should the Iranian nation surrender to? We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone."
“This is the logic of the Iranian nation. This is the spirit of the Iranian nation," he added.
The response comes a day after Trump called on Iran to agree to an "unconditional surrender," signaling earlier this week that merely a ceasefire agreement wasn't enough. The president has also doubled down on his request for a deal with Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program.
While Trump has left open the possibility of U.S. troops getting involved in the conflict, he has not, thus far, supported plans to target Khamenei.
“We know exactly where the so-called “Supreme Leader” is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there," Trump wrote Tuesday. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now."
“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers," he added, alluding to Iran's suggestion that it could target U.S. bases should the Trump administration choose to step in. "Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Iran has rejected calls to surrender, after launching a counterattack following Israel's initial strike, and mounted plans to continue the development of nuclear weapons while warning against U.S. interference.
“The US entering in this matter [war] is 100% to its own detriment," Khamenei added Wednesday in a separate X post. "The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter."
“The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him," he added in another post. "They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats."
The Iranian death toll is above 500 and injuries have soared in the thousands according to the Washington based group Human Rights Activist.
Trump and Israeli forces have encouraged all who are able to evacuate the Iranian capital of Tehran, predicting additional air raids and a high increase in casualties.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life,” Trump wrote earlier this week on Truth Social. “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON."
The president added, "I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”