Iran Warns U.S. Intervention Will Lead to ‘All-Out War’

Photo by SalamPix/Abaca/Sipa USA (Sipa via AP Images)

Iran warned the United States that intervention in its spiraling conflict with Israel would result in “all-out war” in the region as the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, broke his silence to reject President Donald Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender.”

Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told Al Jazeera Wednesday that “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.” While Baghaei did not expand on what such retaliation might entail, thousands of US troops remain stationed across the Middle East, well within range of Iranian missiles.

The remarks came the same morning that Khamenei, who has not spoken out since Friday, warned that a U.S. strike would carry “serious irreparable consequences.”

In a defiant statement broadcast on state media, Khamenei insisted that Iran would “never surrender,” rejecting Trump’s demands made Tuesday via social media.

“Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender,” Khamenei said. “The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.”

On Tuesday, Trump issued a direct and blunt warning to the Iranian leader via Truth Social: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” he wrote. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”

Trump added: “We don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”

The saber-rattling came as Israeli fighter jets bombarded Tehran overnight. According to the IDF, 50 warplanes hit roughly 20 targets linked to Iran’s missile production network. Iran responded with a limited barrage of missiles aimed at Israel.