Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued a firm warning following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as regional tensions continue to escalate. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is Iran’s Supreme Leader and is reportedly in hiding, possibly in an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeast of Tehran, to avoid potential assassination. Initial unverified claims suggested he might have fled to Mashhad, Afghanistan, or Russia, but these remain unconfirmed.
Following the U.S. military operation named “Operation Midnight Hammer” on June 21–22 targeting Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan with bunker-buster bombs and submarine-launched missiles, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei responded through his official X account in Persian on June 23. His latest tweet stated: “The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake, committed a major crime; it must be punished—and it is being punished. It is being punished right now.” The tweet did not mention the U.S. directly.
Earlier, on June 18, in a televised speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Iran’s surrender and warned of “irreparable damage” to the U.S. if military aggression continues. After the strikes, Khamenei reportedly told commanders to stay underground and directed the Assembly of Experts to prepare a shortlist of successors.
The Iranian government condemned the U.S. attacks, calling for a UN Security Council meeting and threatening regional retaliation, including targeting U.S. naval fleets and possibly closing the Strait of Hormuz. Despite U.S. claims of destroying Iran’s nuclear program, Khamenei’s stance remains defiant, signaling no shift in policy.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s current location, exact health status, and succession plans remain unconfirmed due to limited transparency from Iranian authorities.
