Who is Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei? In his increasingly rare appearances at Friday sermons, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei often kept a loaded gun by his side. The Islamic Republic's 86-year-old leader has good reasons to do so, particularly amid the current war with Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead. Often reported to be living in bunkers, Khamenei has survived bids on his life in the past. So, who really is Khamenei? How did he rise to power in Iran? And who all want him dead? Here is a profile:<h2>Ali Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader</h2>Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei&nbsp;has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, becoming only the second person to hold that post after the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini.&nbsp;This means he has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in present-day world. Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei is a so-called ‘Grand Ayatollah’. Born into the family of a modest Islamic scholar,&nbsp; Khamenei studied Islamic theology in Qom under prominent scholars, including Ruhollah Khomeini, his mentor.<h2>A political life dotted with protests, arrests, exile</h2>As a young man, Khamenei was active in protests against the Shah dynasty's rule, way back in the 1960s. He was arrested several times, and lived in exile for three years during the Shah's regime.&nbsp; His humble background, which included studying the religion, has informed his commitment to Islamic governance and his fight against Western influence.<h2>Confidant and inheritor of Khomeini's power</h2>After the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei became a close confidant of Khomeini. He rose through the ranks in the clergy-government nexus of Iran.&nbsp; Since the Revolution, Khomenei held important posts, such as the deputy defence minister in the provisional revolutionary government. He was also the Supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards or IRGC and oversaw the parallel military's early operations.<h2>Rise through the ranks: From president to Supreme Leader</h2>In 1980, Khomeini appointed him as Tehran’s Friday Prayers Imam, &nbsp;a key post in Iran with significant religious and political import. He was elected a parliamentarian in 1980, representing &nbsp;Tehran in the Majlis. A year later, he was elected the President of Iran after the assassination of then president Mohammad Ali Rajai, and went on to serve two terms till 1989. &nbsp;After the death of Khomeini in 1989, he was elected by the Assembly of Experts as the Supreme Leader of Iran.&nbsp;Thus, the son of a simple Islamic scholar became the ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, social and religious life. Over the years, Khamanei served in several other important positions in Iran, including as the&nbsp; chairman of the Revolution’s Cultural Council, President of the Expediency Council, and Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution.<h2>Survivor of assassination attempts</h2>Much of the hagiography around Khamenei is about his survival of assassination attempts. While several of the attempts are either unreported or underplayed in Iran, two of them stand out.&nbsp;Perhaps the most prominent is the bid on his life in 1981.<h2>The Friday prayer bomb attack</h2>On 27 June 1981, Khamenei was at a Friday sermon at Abuzar Mosque in Tehran when a bomb exploded near him. &nbsp;The bomb, hidden in a tape recorder, severely injured Khamenei, leaving him permanently paralysed in his right arm. The blast also damaged his vocal cords and lungs. After months in the hospital, Khamenei came back to the limelight. The assassination attempt and survival made him almost a demigod for his supporters.<h2>Attack at Tehran University</h2>An almost similar attack took place on 15 March 1985 in Tehran University, again during Friday prayers. This time, it was a suicide bomber.&nbsp;Khamenei, who was president at the time, escaped unharmed, even as several people died in the blast.&nbsp; &nbsp;Khamenei continued in office, but this time, he began a crackdown on opposition groups. &nbsp;There have been other reported attempts on the life of Khamenei, including a drone attack in 2022.&nbsp;<h2>Who all wanted him dead?</h2>The opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq or MEK was the 1981 attack perpetrators, according to Iran’s official narrative. For the 1985 attack, no group has been named officially, but the needle of suspicion still pointed to MEK. &nbsp;Over the past two decades, Israel has been among the main adversaries who wanted Khamenei dead. In the first hours of its attacks on Iran this month, Israel reportedly targeted Khamenei's residence or nearby areas.&nbsp; He is reportedly sheltering in a bunker. And Israel is closing in. Iran’s military leaders and Khamenei's top advisor Ali Shamkhani are among those killed in Israel’s initial wave of airstrikes on June 13. With several top names in his inner circle gone, Khamenei, one of the longest-serving leaders of West Asia, is looking more vulnerable than ever.&nbsp; But will he weather this storm too? Watch this space.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead

Who is Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei? In his increasingly rare appearances at Friday sermons, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei often kept a loaded gun by his side. The Islamic Republic's 86-year-old leader has good reasons to do so, particularly amid the current war with Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead. Often reported to be living in bunkers, Khamenei has survived bids on his life in the past. So, who really is Khamenei? How did he rise to power in Iran? And who all want him dead? Here is a profile: Ali Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, becoming only the second person to hold that post after the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. This means he has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in present-day world. Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei is a so-called ‘Grand Ayatollah’. Born into the family of a modest Islamic scholar, Khamenei studied Islamic theology in Qom under prominent scholars, including Ruhollah Khomeini, his mentor. A political life dotted with protests, arrests, exile As a young man, Khamenei was active in protests against the Shah dynasty's rule, way back in the 1960s. He was arrested several times, and lived in exile for three years during the Shah's regime. His humble background, which included studying the religion, has informed his commitment to Islamic governance and his fight against Western influence. Confidant and inheritor of Khomeini's power After the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei became a close confidant of Khomeini. He rose through the ranks in the clergy-government nexus of Iran. Since the Revolution, Khomenei held important posts, such as the deputy defence minister in the provisional revolutionary government. He was also the Supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards or IRGC and oversaw the parallel military's early operations. Rise through the ranks: From president to Supreme Leader In 1980, Khomeini appointed him as Tehran’s Friday Prayers Imam, a key post in Iran with significant religious and political import. He was elected a parliamentarian in 1980, representing Tehran in the Majlis. A year later, he was elected the President of Iran after the assassination of then president Mohammad Ali Rajai, and went on to serve two terms till 1989. After the death of Khomeini in 1989, he was elected by the Assembly of Experts as the Supreme Leader of Iran. Thus, the son of a simple Islamic scholar became the ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, social and religious life. Over the years, Khamanei served in several other important positions in Iran, including as the chairman of the Revolution’s Cultural Council, President of the Expediency Council, and Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution. Survivor of assassination attempts Much of the hagiography around Khamenei is about his survival of assassination attempts. While several of the attempts are either unreported or underplayed in Iran, two of them stand out. Perhaps the most prominent is the bid on his life in 1981. The Friday prayer bomb attack On 27 June 1981, Khamenei was at a Friday sermon at Abuzar Mosque in Tehran when a bomb exploded near him. The bomb, hidden in a tape recorder, severely injured Khamenei, leaving him permanently paralysed in his right arm. The blast also damaged his vocal cords and lungs. After months in the hospital, Khamenei came back to the limelight. The assassination attempt and survival made him almost a demigod for his supporters. Attack at Tehran University An almost similar attack took place on 15 March 1985 in Tehran University, again during Friday prayers. This time, it was a suicide bomber. Khamenei, who was president at the time, escaped unharmed, even as several people died in the blast. Khamenei continued in office, but this time, he began a crackdown on opposition groups. There have been other reported attempts on the life of Khamenei, including a drone attack in 2022. Who all wanted him dead? The opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq or MEK was the 1981 attack perpetrators, according to Iran’s official narrative. For the 1985 attack, no group has been named officially, but the needle of suspicion still pointed to MEK. Over the past two decades, Israel has been among the main adversaries who wanted Khamenei dead. In the first hours of its attacks on Iran this month, Israel reportedly targeted Khamenei's residence or nearby areas. He is reportedly sheltering in a bunker. And Israel is closing in. Iran’s military leaders and Khamenei's top advisor Ali Shamkhani are among those killed in Israel’s initial wave of airstrikes on June 13. With several top names in his inner circle gone, Khamenei, one of the longest-serving leaders of West Asia, is looking more vulnerable than ever. But will he weather this storm too? Watch this space.

&nbsp;Khamenei has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the oldest heads of state in the present world. No small feat, given who all wanted him dead &nbsp;

Israel wants to kill Ali Khamenei but he's survived assassination bids in the past. Who wanted Iran Supreme Leader dead? A profile

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the United States to continue supporting Israel in its offensive against Iran, warning that Tehran poses a direct threat to America as well.<h2>‘America should stand with the good’, says Israeli PM</h2>In an interview, Netanyahu argued that eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme is not only vital for Israel’s safety but also crucial for global security.“Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’,” Netanyahu said. “That’s what these people want. They chant ‘Death to America.’ So we’re doing something that is in the service of mankind, of humanity, and it’s a battle of good against evil. America does, should, and does stand with the good. That’s what President Trump is doing, and I deeply appreciate his support,” he added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-iran-war-netanyahu-says-killing-iran-s-supreme-leader-khamenei-would-end-war-not-escalate-it-1750095901642">Israel-Iran war: Netanyahu says KILLING Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei would end war, not escalate it</a><h2>Netanyahu rejects Iran’s peace overtures as ‘fake talks’</h2>Netanyahu dismissed recent reports that Tehran has sent messages expressing willingness to resume nuclear negotiations. He referred to them as deceptive moves aimed at buying time.“I’m not surprised. I mean, they want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the US along. And, you know, we have very solid intel on that,” he said.He claimed Iran’s true aim is to continue building nuclear weapons and expanding its ballistic missile stockpile. “They want to continue to create the two existential threats against Israel while they’re talking. That’s not going to happen,” he said.<h2>Netanyahu hits back at critics in the US</h2>The Israeli leader also responded to critics within the US who argue that America should stay out of the conflict. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently wrote that “The United States should not at any level participate in a war with Iran. No funding, no American weapons, no troops on the ground.”Netanyahu strongly disagreed saying, “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy. For God’s sake, they chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”Reiterating his appreciation for American support, Netanyahu said, “We’re taking the action. America is supporting us in defense. Deeply, deeply appreciated. But this is a threat to the entire world.”He continued, “It’s a threat to Israel; as I said — to our Arab neighbours; to Europe; to America. They chant ‘Death to America.’ It’s — ‘This is not your business’? This is not myopia. This is utter blindness.”He added, “Sometimes you have to take a stand against evil. And that’s what the American people instinctively understand. Most of them, I have to say. And that’s what President Trump understands. We cannot let that happen.”

Netanyahu strongly disagreed saying, “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy. For God’s sake, they chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the United States to continue supporting Israel in its offensive against Iran, warning that Tehran poses a direct threat to America as well. ‘America should stand with the good’, says Israeli PM In an interview, Netanyahu argued that eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme is not only vital for Israel’s safety but also crucial for global security. “Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’,” Netanyahu said. “That’s what these people want. They chant ‘Death to America.’ So we’re doing something that is in the service of mankind, of humanity, and it’s a battle of good against evil. America does, should, and does stand with the good. That’s what President Trump is doing, and I deeply appreciate his support,” he added. Also read | Israel-Iran war: Netanyahu says KILLING Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei would end war, not escalate it Netanyahu rejects Iran’s peace overtures as ‘fake talks’ Netanyahu dismissed recent reports that Tehran has sent messages expressing willingness to resume nuclear negotiations. He referred to them as deceptive moves aimed at buying time. “I’m not surprised. I mean, they want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the US along. And, you know, we have very solid intel on that,” he said. He claimed Iran’s true aim is to continue building nuclear weapons and expanding its ballistic missile stockpile. “They want to continue to create the two existential threats against Israel while they’re talking. That’s not going to happen,” he said. Netanyahu hits back at critics in the US The Israeli leader also responded to critics within the US who argue that America should stay out of the conflict. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently wrote that “The United States should not at any level participate in a war with Iran. No funding, no American weapons, no troops on the ground.” Netanyahu strongly disagreed saying, “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy. For God’s sake, they chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.” Reiterating his appreciation for American support, Netanyahu said, “We’re taking the action. America is supporting us in defense. Deeply, deeply appreciated. But this is a threat to the entire world.” He continued, “It’s a threat to Israel; as I said — to our Arab neighbours; to Europe; to America. They chant ‘Death to America.’ It’s — ‘This is not your business’? This is not myopia. This is utter blindness.” He added, “Sometimes you have to take a stand against evil. And that’s what the American people instinctively understand. Most of them, I have to say. And that’s what President Trump understands. We cannot let that happen.”

Netanyahu strongly disagreed saying, “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy. For God’s sake, they chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”

'Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York': Netanyahu says US must back Israel or face Iran’s wrath next

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would bring an end to the ongoing conflict, not worsen it.Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Netanyahu dismissed concerns that targeting Iran’s top leadership would intensify the situation.“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” he said, referring to reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected such a proposal for fear of escalation.Also read <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-iran-war-air-raid-sirens-blare-in-israel-after-iran-threatens-largest-missile-attack-in-history-1750093467888">Israel-Iran war: Air raid sirens blare in Israel after Iran threatens ‘LARGEST missile attack in history’</a>Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”He added, “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.”<h2>‘Doing what we need to do,’ says Netanyahu</h2>When asked directly if Israel would target Ayatollah Khamenei, Netanyahu replied, “I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists. It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.”<h2>Iran vows historic missile attack as fighting escalates</h2>The comments came as Israel and Iran entered their fourth day of deadly exchanges. On Monday, Iran launched another volley of missiles towards northern Israel, prompting air raid sirens across the region.“A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.Iranian state media warned that the country was preparing for “the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil.”

Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would bring an end to the ongoing conflict, not worsen it. Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Netanyahu dismissed concerns that targeting Iran’s top leadership would intensify the situation. “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” he said, referring to reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected such a proposal for fear of escalation. Also read Israel-Iran war: Air raid sirens blare in Israel after Iran threatens ‘LARGEST missile attack in history’ Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.” He added, “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.” ‘Doing what we need to do,’ says Netanyahu When asked directly if Israel would target Ayatollah Khamenei, Netanyahu replied, “I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists. It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.” Iran vows historic missile attack as fighting escalates The comments came as Israel and Iran entered their fourth day of deadly exchanges. On Monday, Iran launched another volley of missiles towards northern Israel, prompting air raid sirens across the region. “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement. Iranian state media warned that the country was preparing for “the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil.”

Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”

Israel-Iran war: Netanyahu says KILLING Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei would end war, not escalate it

Tensions in the Middle East are heating up, and all eyes are on Iran. With radar systems going online, Khamenei's mouthpiece demanding 'bullets in Trump's empty skull' and Tehran sending military warnings, the question is: Is Iran preparing for war with the United States?
<h2>'Locked and loaded': Radar upgrades</h2>
Iran has been beefing up its defences. Open-source analysts have flagged a major expansion of the country&rsquo;s Ghadir radar network, a system built to spot incoming aircraft, drones, and missiles from long distances. These radars are now being seen in critical regions, from Tabriz in the northwest to the Persian Gulf coastline. This raises the question: Is Iran bracing for a possible strike?
<h2>Khamenei sounds the alarm</h2>
According to Reuters, Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the country&rsquo;s armed forces onto high alert. The directive reportedly comes in response to threats from US President Donald Trump, suggesting that things could escalate quickly.
Adding to the tensions, Iran has warned its Gulf neighbours, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, not to assist the US militarily. Even just allowing the US to use their airspace could be seen as an act of war, officials said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-pm-netanyahu-arrives-in-washington-to-discuss-tariffs-gaza-and-iran-with-us-president-trump-8935993" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Israeli PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington to discuss tariffs, Gaza and Iran with US President Trump</a>
"Such an act will have severe consequences for them," one Iranian source warned.
This comes after Trump's warning of intense bombing on Iran if it did not back down on its nuclear agenda. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," Trump added.
<h2>Talks? Maybe</h2>
Despite the tensions, Iran isn&rsquo;t completely shutting the door on diplomacy. Direct talks with Washington remain off the table, but indirect communication through Oman, a long-time neutral player, is still a possibility.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a chance to evaluate Washington's seriousness about a political solution with Iran,&rdquo; said one unnamed Iranian official. But for any real breakthrough, Tehran insists Trump must ditch his &ldquo;maximum pressure&rdquo; campaign.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-top-diplomat-rejects-offer-for-direct-nuclear-talks-with-us-calls-it-meaningless-8932101" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Iran&rsquo;s top diplomat rejects offer for direct nuclear talks with US, calls it &lsquo;meaningless&rsquo;</a>
<h2>The threat heard around the world</h2>
Iran&rsquo;s Kayhan newspaper, often described as the mouthpiece of Khamenei himself, published an article that made global headlines for all the wrong reasons. In a line aimed at Trump, the paper wrote, "He&rsquo;s way out of line! Any day now, in revenge for the blood of Martyr Soleimani, a few bullets are going to be fired into that empty skull of his, and he&rsquo;ll be drinking from the chalice of a cursed death."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-warns-us-president-donald-trump-against-making-unwise-threats-says-tehran-will-inflict-a-blow-8848103" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Iran will retaliate&rsquo;: Khamenei warns Trump against making &lsquo;unwise&rsquo; threats, says &lsquo;will inflict a blow&rsquo;</a>
Kayhan added, "He makes threats and then backs down! The result? The situation in America gets worse by the day. Just yesterday, it was announced that his actions have caused $3 trillion in damage to the US economy, American exports are facing serious problems, and top officials in the military, CIA, and elsewhere have either resigned or been dismissed."
So, is Iran preparing for war with the US? No one knows for sure, but the pieces are being moved into place.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/there-will-be-bombing-like-never-before-trump-threatens-iran-with-strikes-tariffs-over-nuclear-deal-refusal-8907621" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'There will be bombing like never before': Trump threatens Iran with strikes, tariffs over nuclear deal refusal</a>

World: With radar systems going online, Khamenei's mouthpiece demanding 'bullets in Trump's empty skull' and Tehran sending military warnings, the question is: Is Iran preparing for war with the United States? Middle East

Tensions in the Middle East are heating up, and all eyes are on Iran. With radar systems going online, Khamenei's mouthpiece demanding 'bullets in Trump's empty skull' and Tehran sending military warnings, the question is: Is Iran preparing for war with the United States? 'Locked and loaded': Radar upgrades Iran has been beefing up its defences. Open-source analysts have flagged a major expansion of the country’s Ghadir radar network, a system built to spot incoming aircraft, drones, and missiles from long distances. These radars are now being seen in critical regions, from Tabriz in the northwest to the Persian Gulf coastline. This raises the question: Is Iran bracing for a possible strike? Khamenei sounds the alarm According to Reuters, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the country’s armed forces onto high alert. The directive reportedly comes in response to threats from US President Donald Trump, suggesting that things could escalate quickly. Adding to the tensions, Iran has warned its Gulf neighbours, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, not to assist the US militarily. Even just allowing the US to use their airspace could be seen as an act of war, officials said. Also read: Israeli PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington to discuss tariffs, Gaza and Iran with US President Trump "Such an act will have severe consequences for them," one Iranian source warned. This comes after Trump's warning of intense bombing on Iran if it did not back down on its nuclear agenda. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," Trump added. Talks? Maybe Despite the tensions, Iran isn’t completely shutting the door on diplomacy. Direct talks with Washington remain off the table, but indirect communication through Oman, a long-time neutral player, is still a possibility. “There’s a chance to evaluate Washington's seriousness about a political solution with Iran,” said one unnamed Iranian official. But for any real breakthrough, Tehran insists Trump must ditch his “maximum pressure” campaign. Also read: Iran’s top diplomat rejects offer for direct nuclear talks with US, calls it ‘meaningless’ The threat heard around the world Iran’s Kayhan newspaper, often described as the mouthpiece of Khamenei himself, published an article that made global headlines for all the wrong reasons. In a line aimed at Trump, the paper wrote, "He’s way out of line! Any day now, in revenge for the blood of Martyr Soleimani, a few bullets are going to be fired into that empty skull of his, and he’ll be drinking from the chalice of a cursed death." Also read: ‘Iran will retaliate’: Khamenei warns Trump against making ‘unwise’ threats, says ‘will inflict a blow’ Kayhan added, "He makes threats and then backs down! The result? The situation in America gets worse by the day. Just yesterday, it was announced that his actions have caused $3 trillion in damage to the US economy, American exports are facing serious problems, and top officials in the military, CIA, and elsewhere have either resigned or been dismissed." So, is Iran preparing for war with the US? No one knows for sure, but the pieces are being moved into place. Also read: 'There will be bombing like never before': Trump threatens Iran with strikes, tariffs over nuclear deal refusal

Is Iran preparing for war with the US? Khamenei's mouthpiece calls for ‘bullets in Trump’s skull’ as radar systems go live

US President Donald Trump suggested on Friday (March 7) that action against Iran could be imminent, saying that "something is going to happen very soon."
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "There will be some interesting days ahead, that's all I can tell you." He did not provide specific details.
"We&rsquo;re down to final strokes with Iran. That&rsquo;s going to be an interesting time, and we&rsquo;ll see what happens," he said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/todays-ukraine-is-yesterdays-afghan-did-irans-khamenei-predict-us-treatment-of-zelensky-3-years-back-8769497">'Today&rsquo;s Ukraine is yesterday&rsquo;s Afghan': Did Iran's Khamenei predict US' treatment of Zelensky&nbsp;3&nbsp;years&nbsp;back?</a>
Repeating his stance on Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions, Trump added, "We&rsquo;re down to final moments. We&rsquo;re at final moments. We can&rsquo;t let them have a nuclear weapon."
"It&rsquo;s an interesting time in the history of the world, but we have a situation with Iran that something&rsquo;s going to happen very soon &ndash; very, very soon," Trump said.
Despite hinting at possible military action, he also spoke of a diplomatic solution. "Hopefully, we can have a peace deal. I&rsquo;m not speaking out of strength or weakness; I&rsquo;m just saying I&rsquo;d rather see a peace deal than the other. But the other will solve the problem," he said, without clarifying what "the other" referred to.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-difficult-to-deal-with-ukraine-trump-complains-about-zelensky-says-easier-to-deal-with-russia-8832284">'More difficult to deal with Ukraine': Trump complains about Zelensky, says easier to deal with Russia</a>
<h2>Trump's letter to Iran</h2>
Trump also revealed on Friday that he had sent a letter to Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging the country to enter negotiations over its nuclear programme. However, Tehran has insisted it will not engage in talks unless the US lifts its "maximum pressure" sanctions.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-era-dei-ban-triggers-pentagon-to-delete-historic-wwii-photo-of-gay-plane-heres-why-8832262">Trump-era DEI ban triggers Pentagon to delete historic WWII photo of 'gay' plane: Here&rsquo;s why</a>
"I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them," he said. "You can't let them have a nuclear weapon."
<h2>Iran denies receiving letter</h2>
Meanwhile, Iran's mission to the United Nations also told AFP, "We have not received such a letter so far."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impossible-to-trade-with-india-but-us-president-donald-trump-criticises-indias-high-tariffs-again-8832319">&lsquo;Impossible to trade with India, but...&rsquo;: Trump criticises India&rsquo;s high tariffs again</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Repeating his stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump added, "We’re down to final moments. We’re at final moments. We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon."

US President Donald Trump suggested on Friday (March 7) that action against Iran could be imminent, saying that "something is going to happen very soon." Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "There will be some interesting days ahead, that's all I can tell you." He did not provide specific details. "We’re down to final strokes with Iran. That’s going to be an interesting time, and we’ll see what happens," he said. Also read: 'Today’s Ukraine is yesterday’s Afghan': Did Iran's Khamenei predict US' treatment of Zelensky 3 years back? Repeating his stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump added, "We’re down to final moments. We’re at final moments. We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon." "It’s an interesting time in the history of the world, but we have a situation with Iran that something’s going to happen very soon – very, very soon," Trump said. Despite hinting at possible military action, he also spoke of a diplomatic solution. "Hopefully, we can have a peace deal. I’m not speaking out of strength or weakness; I’m just saying I’d rather see a peace deal than the other. But the other will solve the problem," he said, without clarifying what "the other" referred to. Also read: 'More difficult to deal with Ukraine': Trump complains about Zelensky, says easier to deal with Russia Trump's letter to Iran Trump also revealed on Friday that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging the country to enter negotiations over its nuclear programme. However, Tehran has insisted it will not engage in talks unless the US lifts its "maximum pressure" sanctions. Also read: Trump-era DEI ban triggers Pentagon to delete historic WWII photo of 'gay' plane: Here’s why "I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them," he said. "You can't let them have a nuclear weapon." Iran denies receiving letter Meanwhile, Iran's mission to the United Nations also told AFP, "We have not received such a letter so far." Also read: ‘Impossible to trade with India, but...’: Trump criticises India’s high tariffs again (With inputs from agencies)

'Final strokes': Trump hints at 'final moments' with Iran after his letter to Khamenei 'gets lost in mail'