Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Sunday (22) that “punishment will continue” against Israel in its first statement after the United States joins Israeli bombing against Iranian nuclear facilities. At dawn on Sunday, the US attacked three Nuclear Centers of Iran – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan – marking its official entry into the conflict started on June 13, when Israel launched an offensive against Iranian nuclear targets.
In a publication on social networks, Khamenei stated that “the Zionist enemy made a big mistake, a great crime; it should be punished – and is being punished right now.” The message was accompanied by an image with a sole skull on the star of David, a symbol present on the flag of Israel.
Hours after Khamenei’s speech, the Israeli army announced new bombings against military targets in western Iran, including deposits and missile launchers, as well as satellite and radar facilities. There were also reports of attacks in the northwest of the country. According to the Iranian press, an ambulance was hit, killing at least three people.
In the midst of climbing, US President Donald Trump made a provocative publication on his social truth network. He mocked the possibility of a change of regime in Iran by stating: “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why would there be no change? Nevertheless, his deputy, Jd Vance, tried to reduce the tone by stating that “we are not at war with Iran, we are at war with the Iranian nuclear program,” and asked Tehran to accept negotiating.
The scenario in Iran is of maximum tension. According to Iranian authorities, Khamenei is taking refuge in a bunker, suspended electronic communications and began to communicate with commanders through intermediaries. He would also have appointed three clerics as potential successors if he is killed, revealing the regime’s degree of concern with the current situation.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, accused the US of submitting to Israel’s interests and said Iran reserves the right to respond to the attacks proportionally. According to him, the American proposal to resume nuclear negotiations is an attempt to deceive the international community.
