What is the story about?
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States to stop "deceitful actions" and reliance on “traitorous hirelings". He added that he knows that the "enemy is always present on the scene".
The remarks came after the White House said US President Donald Trump was keeping airstrikes on Iran among his options.
In a series of posts on X, Khamenei said, "The great Iranian nation has asserted its resolve and identity in the face of the enemies. This was a warning to US politicians that they should halt their deceitful actions and stop relying on their traitorous hirelings. The Iranian nation is strong, powerful and aware; it knows the enemy and is always present on the scene."
Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against anti-government protesters. It's a red line that Trump has said he believes Iran is "starting to cross" and has left him and his national security team weighing "very strong options".
Also, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing on Monday that Trump was "very good at always keeping all of his options on the table", adding that airstrikes were among the options available to the commander in chief.
"One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table. And air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander in chief," Leavitt told reporters.
Demonstrations in Iran continue and the death toll has crossed 646 in the country. The toll comes from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate throughout multiple years of demonstrations. It relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.
The demonstrations are the biggest Iran has seen in years — protests spurred by the collapse of Iranian currency that have morphed into a larger test of Khamenei's repressive rule.
Iran, through the country's parliamentary speaker, has warned that the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if Washington uses force to protect demonstrators.
The remarks came after the White House said US President Donald Trump was keeping airstrikes on Iran among his options.
In a series of posts on X, Khamenei said, "The great Iranian nation has asserted its resolve and identity in the face of the enemies. This was a warning to US politicians that they should halt their deceitful actions and stop relying on their traitorous hirelings. The Iranian nation is strong, powerful and aware; it knows the enemy and is always present on the scene."
Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against anti-government protesters. It's a red line that Trump has said he believes Iran is "starting to cross" and has left him and his national security team weighing "very strong options".
Also, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing on Monday that Trump was "very good at always keeping all of his options on the table", adding that airstrikes were among the options available to the commander in chief.
"One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table. And air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander in chief," Leavitt told reporters.
Demonstrations in Iran continue and the death toll has crossed 646 in the country. The toll comes from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate throughout multiple years of demonstrations. It relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.
The demonstrations are the biggest Iran has seen in years — protests spurred by the collapse of Iranian currency that have morphed into a larger test of Khamenei's repressive rule.
Iran, through the country's parliamentary speaker, has warned that the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if Washington uses force to protect demonstrators.
