Watan-Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender and warned of a strong response should America attack Iran. Meanwhile, Trump stated his patience had run out but did not indicate any specific next steps.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said: “Unconditional surrender — I’m tired of this.” When asked about Khamenei’s rejection of his demand, Trump simply replied, “Good luck.” He added that he had encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue operations against Iran.
In a televised speech — his first public appearance since Friday — Khamenei (age 86) lashed out at Trump, stating: “Americans must know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable harm.” He added, “Those who understand Iran, its people, and its history never speak the language of threats, because the Iranian people will never surrender.”
A source familiar with internal U.S. discussions said Trump and his team were evaluating options, including joining Israel in attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaking before a Senate committee, said the Pentagon was prepared to carry out any order Trump might issue, hinting that U.S. involvement could become clearer in the coming days. However, Hegseth was notably cautious and refused to confirm active preparations for strikes on Iran.
Iran Fires Hypersonic Missiles as War of Words with Trump Escalates
An Israeli military official confirmed that 50 fighter jets struck around 20 targets in Tehran the previous night, including sites involved in raw material production and missile manufacturing. Israeli forces also urged civilians to evacuate parts of the capital ahead of the bombings.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned Wednesday against any further military escalation in the Iran-Israel war, saying the consequences “would be devastating” for the entire region. “I urge all parties to avoid internationalizing the conflict further,” he said, referring to the involvement of additional nations.
Qatar and the UK Urge De-escalation
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed the Israeli attack on Iran with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a phone call on Wednesday evening, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation and diplomatic resolution, according to a statement by Qatar’s royal court.
Earlier the same day, the Qatari emir received a letter from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian focused on bilateral relations. The letter was delivered by Iran’s ambassador to Qatar during a meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi.
Cyberattack Destroys $90 Million in Iranian Digital Currency
A hacker group hostile to Iran — possibly linked to Israel — claimed responsibility for a massive cyberattack on one of Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, destroying nearly $90 million in assets. The group, known as “Gonjeshke Darandeh” (Predatory Sparrow), said it also targeted the platform’s source code.
The same group had earlier claimed to have destroyed data at the state-owned Bank Sepah amid the intensifying war and missile strikes between Israel and Iran.
Wednesday’s cyberattack targeted Nobitex, a major Iranian crypto exchange. The group accused the platform of helping the Iranian government bypass sanctions and fund illicit operations globally.
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