Iran's supreme leader promises a “tooth-breaking response” to Israel and the US.

CNN
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised Israel and the United States a “tooth-breaking” response after Israel attacked Iranian military sites in retaliatory strikes late last month.

“The enemies, both the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel), should know that they will definitely receive a shocking response to their actions against Iran and the resistance front,” Khamenei said, referring to Iran allied militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah.

He spoke during a meeting with students on Saturday ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iranian state Press Television reported.

“We are certainly doing everything necessary to prepare the Iranian nation to confront arrogance, be it in terms of military preparedness, armaments or political actions, and thank God our officials are currently engaged in this,” he added.

Iran and Israel have long been enemies, a rivalry that intensified after the Hamas attacks on October 7 last year and the subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza. Israel is fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and at least 19 people were injured in the central Israeli city of Tira overnight after projectiles were fired across the border.

Khamenei's comments come a week after Israel's latest round of attacks against Iran in response to the Islamic Republic's Oct. 1 rocket attack on the Jewish state, itself a response to Israel's assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

For the first time, Israeli officials admitted hitting targets on Iranian soil, leading to a significant escalation in tensions, although Israel did not launch any attacks on Iranian energy or nuclear facilities.

Iran has been considering its response to Israel's attacks. A senior source told CNN on Wednesday that they would face a “final and painful” retaliation, likely before the US presidential election.

Khamenei's comments on Saturday signaled a shift from Iran's initial attempts to downplay the severity of Israel's Oct. 25 attacks.

After the attacks, Khamenei struck a more moderate tone, saying the attacks “should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed.”

An Israeli military source said Thursday that the country was “highly prepared for an Iranian response.” But the source told CNN that they are “still assessing the decision-making process in Iran” to determine if and when retaliation will occur.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that Iran should not respond to Israel's attacks on its territory, adding: “However, should Iran decide to respond, the US will stand ready to do so.” To support Israel in its defense.”

Iran also said this week it could increase the range of its missiles, according to a state media report. “If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we will inevitably change the policy of our military doctrine,” the head of Iran's Strategic Council for Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, told Lebanese television channel al-Mayadeen on Friday, according to Press TV.

He also said Iran was capable of producing nuclear weapons but remained constrained by a mandate from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against weapons of mass destruction, Press TV reported.