Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei finally publicly reacted today (Friday) to the letter sent to him by President Donald Trump two weeks ago, by sending a stern warning to Washington.
“America needs to know that if it messes with Iran, it will get a strong slap,” said Khamenei, while denying Iran’s direct control over proxy groups like the Houthis in Yemen: “We don’t have agents – everyone operates independently,” he claimed.
“They Failed to Undermine the Spirit of the Iranian People”
In another statement, Khamenei referred to the senior Iranians eliminated over the past year, including the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and the death of President Raisi. “The year 1403 had many events, but the enemies failed to undermine the spirit of the Iranian people.” He added: “The resistance front will eventually lead to the defeat of the enemy and the Zionist regime.”
“The Threat is Also an Opportunity”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed the contents of Trump’s letter this week, saying it was “a threat that also contains an opportunity,” and clarified: “We will not negotiate under pressure, threats, or sanctions. We will review all aspects of the message, and our response will be delivered through the appropriate channels.” Trump demanded a response within two months, and made clear in an interview with Fox News: “We will not let Iran acquire nuclear weapons – and if there is no agreement, there will be an alternative that will solve the problem.”
A New Agreement Proposal Alongside an Explicit Threat in Case of Rejection
According to a report from Axios, Trump sent the letter to the Iranian leader through the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed, who sent his envoy to Tehran to deliver the message. American officials described the letter’s tone as “sharp,” combining a new agreement proposal alongside an explicit threat in case of refusal.
