TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday firmly rejected any notion of surrender to the United States, asserting that Iran’s recent military actions had revealed weaknesses in both American and Israeli defense systems.
In a nationally televised address, Khamenei responded to past remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested that Iran had no option but to surrender. “Trump admitted the truth when he said Iran must surrender — because nothing short of that would satisfy them,” Khamenei said. “But that will never happen. Our nation stands strong.”
Labeling recent U.S. military actions as superficial, Khamenei dismissed them as performative. “The attacks were more about appearances. It was political theatre to boost morale in Washington,” he added.
He went on to praise Iran’s armed forces, claiming they had achieved a “strategic success” by penetrating Israeli air defenses and striking both civilian and military areas. Khamenei referred specifically to an alleged strike on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to U.S. forces. “We dealt a severe blow. The base was damaged, proving that our reach extends across the region,” he claimed.
Turning his attention to Israel, Khamenei said, “The Zionist regime was taken by surprise and overwhelmed. Despite their boasts, they ended up in silence.” He warned that any future aggression would be met with decisive and forceful retaliation. “The enemy will pay dearly if they provoke us again,” he said.
While independent confirmation of Iran’s claims is lacking, the Supreme Leader’s rhetoric marks an escalation in an already volatile regional situation. In the wake of a temporary ceasefire following a 12-day military confrontation with Israel, Iranian authorities are now redirecting their focus inward, ramping up domestic security measures and tightening control across the country, especially in Kurdish regions.
According to officials and activists, security forces began sweeping arrests and established widespread checkpoints shortly after Israeli airstrikes commenced on June 13. The crackdown includes intensified surveillance and house-to-house searches in areas with a history of dissent.
While some in Israel and among the Iranian diaspora had hoped the conflict would incite a mass uprising, no large-scale protests have emerged. Still, Iranian officials remain wary of unrest. “Internal security is now our priority,” said a senior security official, noting that the Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary groups are on high alert.
Authorities are reportedly concerned about the activities of opposition groups such as the People’s Mujahideen Organisation, Kurdish separatists, and suspected Israeli agents.
Military deployments have also been observed near Iran’s borders with Iraq, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan, as officials aim to prevent infiltration by armed groups. In Kurdish provinces, residents report increased military presence, road closures, and school occupations by the Revolutionary Guards.
Ribaz Khalili of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) said Iranian forces had started arresting activists and occupying civilian buildings shortly after the first Israeli strike. Another activist, from the PJAK group, estimated that over 500 opposition members had been detained.
Checkpoints and physical searches have been established across major Kurdish cities like Sanandaj and Kermanshah. Locals are subject to searches of both personal belongings and mobile devices, adding to the atmosphere of fear and surveillance. As international observers monitor the ceasefire and its aftermath, human rights organizations have raised concerns about the Iranian government’s use of conflict to suppress dissent and expand its grip on internal opposition.
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