TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, vowing that any American military involvement in the ongoing Israeli strikes against Iran would bring “irreparable harm.” The message aired on state television amid intensifying cross-border attacks between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
The statement, read aloud by a state broadcaster, said, “Any form of U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be met with irreparable harm.” Khamenei did not appear in person but addressed the message to Trump directly after the former president declared he was considering aligning U.S. forces with Israel in the unfolding campaign.
Tensions escalated sharply overnight. Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes deep into Iranian territory, targeting sensitive infrastructure. According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF), more than 50 fighter jets struck key sites, including a centrifuge production center in Tehran, a missile plant, and a university linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed damage to two Iranian centrifuge production facilities. One building at the Tehran Research Center used for testing advanced centrifuge rotors was hit. In Karaj, two buildings at the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA) were destroyed. These facilities had been under international monitoring as part of previous nuclear agreements.
In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes against Israeli cities. Air-raid sirens sounded multiple times across Tel Aviv and other regions, although no casualties were reported in Israel. Iranian state media claimed its forces had fired Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles, aimed at strategic targets.
Iran also confirmed it had shot down an Israeli Hermes drone in Isfahan province. The IDF acknowledged the loss of the unmanned aircraft but said no sensitive data was compromised.
Trump, in a televised statement Monday night, called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” adding, “We know where Khamenei is, but we won’t kill him for now.” His remarks drew sharp criticism from Iranian leadership. “Wise people who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation in the language of threats,” Khamenei’s statement responded. “Iranians are not those who surrender.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar defended the military actions in a letter to the United Nations. “Iran has a strategic plan to eliminate Israel,” he wrote. “This includes concrete plans and actions, not just rhetoric.” Sa’ar said Israel’s strikes were pre-emptive, describing them as the “last window of opportunity” to disrupt Iran’s growing missile and nuclear capabilities.
According to Iran’s Health Ministry, 224 people have been killed since the start of the conflict, with most being civilians. Israel says at least 24 of its civilians died from Iranian missile attacks.
The U.N. has not yet issued a formal response. Diplomatic backchannels are reportedly active, but no clear path to de-escalation has emerged.
This marks the sixth consecutive day of military engagement between the two countries. Analysts believe the region is entering a critical phase that may draw in additional global actors if tensions continue to rise.
While both sides claim defensive intent, the scale and precision of the attacks indicate calculated escalation. The international community remains on edge as both Tehran and Jerusalem stand firm.
