Iran’s Supreme Leader issued his most incendiary threats yet this week as fighting between Iran and Israel escalated into open warfare.

“We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted to social media on June 17. This statement marked the first in a series of sharp warnings from Tehran following Israeli airstrikes that targeted Iranian military infrastructure allegedly linked to the country’s nuclear program.

 

On June 18, Khamenei added, “The Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake and committed a serious crime, and it must be punished.”

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In another tweet the same day, the Ayatollah appeared to reference U.S. support for Israeli operations, writing, “It was already suspected that the US was involved in the malicious move carried out by the Zionist regime, but considering their recent remarks, this suspicion is growing stronger day by day.”

The final remark may refer to a viral clip of an interview U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz gave to Tucker Carlson, in which Cruz said, “we” were striking Iran. Carlson quickly flagged the use of “we,” prompting Cruz to clarify that he meant Israel—with U.S. backing—was responsible.

 

While Iranian leaders promised retribution, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) doubled down on their strikes. On June 18, the IDF posted, “The IAF is currently striking military targets belonging to the Iranian Regime in Tehran.”

That same morning, the IDF added: “Approx. 25 fighter jets struck over 40 missile infrastructure components directed toward Israel… A loaded and ready-to-launch ‘Emad’ missile launcher was also struck overnight.”

 

Accompanying a video, the IDF X account said: “We have delivered significant blows to the Iranian regime, and as such, they have been pushed back into central Iran… We are aiming at military targets, they are attacking civilian homes.”

The tit-for-tat exchanges began last weekend after Israel targeted alleged nuclear-linked facilities and personnel. Iran responded by launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of drones into Israeli territory, killing or injuring nearly 300, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

In Tel Aviv, damage was reported near the U.S. embassy, though no American staff were injured, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed. The Israeli Navy said it intercepted at least 25 Iranian UAVs using advanced maritime air defense systems.

The conflict has prompted increasingly public comments from American officials, including President Donald Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard has insisted that the administration is unified on Iran strategy, while Trump’s orders have signaled continued U.S. action.

Some on Capitol Hill have tried to force de-escalation. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) has reintroduced a version of the restrictive Iran War Powers Resolution, while the U.S. military continues to reposition assets in the Middle East.