Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei strongly warned on the 18th (local time) that "the Iranian people must know that they will never surrender," targeting U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a video speech that day, Khamenei stated, "Smart people who know Iran, Iranians, and Iran's history will never speak to Iranians in a threatening manner," directly criticizing the U.S.'s threatening remarks.
Khamenei emphasized, "The U.S. must remember that its military intervention will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage." He dismissed President Trump's recent remarks as "absurd" and reiterated, "Iran will not succumb to any external pressure."
These comments are interpreted as a direct response to President Trump’s public demand for "unconditional surrender of Iran" and his warning that "he knows where the Supreme Leader is hiding." Khamenei has warned that if the U.S. acts militarily in alliance with Israel, Iran will retaliate against targets within U.S. territory, including U.S. military bases.