In a direct challenge to mounting pressures from the West, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has drawn a red line. He vowed that any strike against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would ignite a war against the whole Iranian nation. The declaration arrived hot on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump’s provocative remarks pushing for new leadership in Tehran.
Posting on X, Pezeshkian emphasized the gravity: ‘Targeting our esteemed leader means declaring total war on Iran.’ Trump’s interview comments, suggesting the end of Iran’s long-standing rulers, have only intensified the rift.
Pezeshkian linked Iran’s economic struggles directly to American policies. He lambasted the U.S. and its partners for ‘inhuman sanctions’ and historical animosity that have battered the populace. Daily life in Iran, he argued, bears the scars of this external aggression.
The exchange echoes earlier barbs. Khamenei labeled Trump a criminal, blaming him for casualties in Iran’s turbulent periods. Trump countered fiercely, decrying the leadership’s reliance on brutality to maintain control amid protests fueled by economic despair and rights violations.
Trump described the demonstrations as a public revolt against decades of mismanagement, painting the regime as one sustained by terror and leading the nation to devastation. His words have stoked fears of confrontation.
Since Trump’s second term began, U.S.-Iran ties have deteriorated further under sustained American pressure. Leaders from both nations trade salvos regularly, keeping the powder keg primed.
This latest ultimatum from Pezeshkian signals unwavering solidarity within Iran’s power structure. As global observers analyze the fallout, questions linger over potential flashpoints. Could this rhetoric tip into action, or will it remain a war of words? The coming days will be telling.