June 18, 2025 Khamenei.ir
“In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
I greet the great Iranian nation.
The first topic I would like to address is praise for the conduct of our dear people in light of the recent incident inflicted upon our country by the enemies. The Iranian people have proven to be composed, courageous, and aware of the moment. The movement our people presented to the world on the day of Eid al-Ghadir was extraordinary. Their gatherings and marches in recent days, their presence in Friday prayers and the marches afterward—all of this is evidence of the Iranian people’s maturity and of the deep-rooted combination of rationality and spirituality with courage and perfect timing among our dear nation.
I thank God that He has endowed this believing people with such moral and material capabilities, by His grace. I must also mention the powerful and symbolic act of the female television presenter who stood firm in the face of the enemy’s arrogance: her takbir (God is great) and display of the people’s strength to the whole world was a historic and profoundly valuable event.
The second topic is that this incident, the foolish and malicious attack by the Zionist entity on our country, occurred while government officials were engaged in indirect negotiations via mediators with the American side. There was nothing from Iran that indicated any aggressive or harsh military move. Of course, it was expected from the start that the US was complicit in this malicious action by the Zionist entity, but with the latest statements being issued, this expectation is only becoming more confirmed by the day.
The Iranian people stand firm against an imposed war, just as they stand firm against an imposed peace. The Iranian people do not surrender to the dictates of anyone. I expect intellectuals, writers, and public figures, especially those with global audiences, to clarify and explain these truths. They must not allow the enemy to distort facts through deceitful propaganda.
The Zionist enemy committed a grave mistake and a major crime, and it must be punished—and it is being punished. The punishment meted out by the Iranian people and our armed forces, the punishment currently being delivered, and the punishment prepared for the future, is a severe one that has already weakened it. Even the intervention and statements of its American allies are signs of its weakness and incapacity.
The final point is this: the American president has issued threats. He threatens us and, at the same time—ridiculously and shamelessly—demands that the Iranian people submit to him. One is truly astonished by such behavior.
First, threats only affect those who fear them. The Iranian people have demonstrated that they do not flinch in the face of threats. As God says: “Do not weaken or grieve, for you will have the upper hand if you are believers.” (Qur’an 3:139)
Threats have no influence on the Iranian people’s behavior or thinking.
Second, to tell the Iranian people to come and surrender—this is not rational speech. Those who know Iran, who know the Iranian people and its history, would never utter such words. Surrender to what? The Iranian people are immune to submission. We have not attacked anyone, and under no circumstance will we accept aggression from anyone—nor will we surrender to it. This is the logic and spirit of the Iranian nation.
Naturally, the Americans familiar with this region’s politics know well that any US entry into this conflict would be entirely to their own detriment. The losses they would incur would far exceed anything Iran might endure. Should America enter this arena militarily, it would suffer unquestionably irreparable losses.
I ask our dear people to always keep this noble verse in mind: “Victory is only from God, the Almighty, the Wise.” (Qur’an 3:126)
Life, thank God, continues normally. Do not let the enemy sense fear or weakness from you.”
