TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned on Wednesday that the US midterm results would not end Washington’s hostility towards Tehran.
His comments appeared in a written message marking Iran’s annual anti-US commemoration on November 4. Republicans suffered election defeats on Tuesday.
However, Khamenei rejected expectations that changes in US political control would soften Washington’s position. He argued that concessions would encourage further demands from the United States.
According to Khamenei, the United States ultimately sought Iran’s unconditional surrender. The Iranian leader also warned against renewed military action.
“Any repetition of aggression will take on far broader dimensions,” the statement said. Khamenei pointed to Iranian operations in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on US military bases in regional countries.
Read: Iran’s Khamenei Warns US and Israel Against New Attacks
He presented those actions as evidence that American military power could be challenged. The message also cautioned Iranians against expecting meaningful policy changes from differences between
American political parties. Meanwhile, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf interpreted the Republican losses differently.
Read: Iran Peace Talks: Pezeshkian Says Khamenei Granted Powers
Ghalibaf argued that American voters had rejected the war. He linked the election results to public opposition to the conflict and its economic costs.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly or been heard speaking since the war began on February 28. No audio or video accompanied Wednesday’s written statement.
With additional input from Iran International and Reuters
