Trump Warns Iran Against Retaliation for Strikes Which Killed Ayatollah Khamenei
Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran against further retaliation for joint US-Israeli military strikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US President threatened to counter any Iranian action with a force "that has never been seen before," escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
Trump's Forceful Social Media Post
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, President Trump directly addressed Iran's stated intentions to launch retaliatory strikes. "Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before," Trump wrote. "THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
This warning came after Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced it would launch its "most-intense offensive operation" ever, targeting Israeli and American bases. Iranian state television confirmed the death of the 86-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei early on Sunday, following the Saturday morning strikes.
Background to the Conflict
The US and Israel described their coordinated attacks as "pre-emptive" strikes against a Tehran government they accuse of pursuing nuclear weapons development. These strikes occurred just days after talks between the US and Iran aimed at resolving nuclear issues ended without agreement, though discussions were expected to resume later.
Trump had previously claimed Khamenei died in the initial attacks and urged the Iranian people to seize what he called "the single greatest chance ... to take back their country." The British government has not yet officially commented on the Ayatollah's death, but shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel stated: "No-one should shed any tears for the death of Khamenei."
Regional Retaliation and International Response
Iran's retaliation for Saturday's strikes has already manifested in attacks reported across several Gulf countries, including:
- The United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Saudi Arabia
This escalation has raised significant concerns for regional stability and the safety of foreign nationals. Hundreds of thousands of British citizens are believed to be present in the Gulf region, with those in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE urged to register their presence with the Foreign Office.
UK Government Actions and Diplomatic Efforts
Following the initial strikes, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer convened the government's emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning before consulting with European and Gulf allies. Later that day, Starmer spoke directly with President Trump to discuss the developing situation and outline the UK's role in defensive operations in the region.
In a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, Prime Minister Starmer condemned Iran's retaliation and urged Tehran to "refrain from indiscriminate military strikes" and "seek a negotiated solution."
Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer clarified that while the UK was not involved in the initial strikes against Iran, the country had subsequently deployed aircraft "as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies."
The Prime Minister added that protections had been enhanced for British bases in the Middle East and that the government was "reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them." This comprehensive response reflects the gravity of the situation and the potential for further escalation in the coming days.
