ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared his nation would show “no mercy” toward Israeli leadership.
The threat came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. could assassinate Khamenei and demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”.
Amid rising tensions, missile exchanges between Iran and Israel intensified, sparking mass evacuations in Tehran and Tel Aviv.
We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime.
We will show the Zionists no mercy.— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 17, 2025
Missile Strikes and Drone Clashes Intensify
Iran launched multiple missile barrages toward Israel early Wednesday, with explosions heard in Tel Aviv.
Israel responded with over 50 airstrikes on Tehran, including key military and missile facilities.
Footage on Iranian state TV showed a downed Israeli Hermes drone in Isfahan.
Meanwhile, Iran accused five suspected Mossad agents of online subversion and detained them in the country’s west.
Iranian forces also reported clashes with gunmen in Rey, near Tehran, linking them to Israeli-backed terrorism plots.
An Israeli Hermes 900 drone was reportedly shot down over Isfahan, Iran.#Iran #Israel pic.twitter.com/BkbvdJQ8dp
— Aimen Jamil (@jamil_aimen) June 18, 2025
Israeli air raids hit targets including a Revolutionary Guards-linked university and the Khojir ballistic missile facility.
Iran’s military stated its missiles remain a deterrent, rejecting U.S. and Israeli accusations of nuclear weapon ambitions.
Global Stakes Rise as U.S. Weighs Deeper Role
President Trump warned Iran that the U.S. knows Khamenei’s whereabouts but is “not taking him out — for now.”
He held a high-level security meeting and spoke with Israeli PM Netanyahu, signaling potential U.S. involvement.
Three U.S. fighter squadrons have been redeployed to the region, and airspace control operations are intensifying.
Israel claims to control Iranian airspace and struck Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.
The IAEA declared Iran in breach of nuclear obligations, intensifying fears of a broader war.
As evacuations rise and oil markets react, Khamenei’s inner circle has reportedly suffered major losses, weakening his command.
With Iran’s regional influence fading and cyber warfare underway, the geopolitical balance in the Middle East faces historic disruption.
