Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called US President Donald Trump a criminal during a speech on Saturday, stating he is "guilty for the casualties, damages, and slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation." "Western media figures interfered in past seditions, but this time the US president himself encouraged the sedionists," Khamenei said. He went on to say that both the US and the "Zionist regime" are guilty.
Khamenei emphasized that he did not want to lead the country to war but that he would not spare criminals, whether domestic or foreign. Earlier on Saturday, the US State Department's official Farsi X account posted that they had heard that the Islamic Republic was preparing options for targeting US bases and warned of retaliation.
"As President Trump has repeatedly emphasized, all options remain on the table, and if the Islamic Republic regime attacks American assets, the Islamic Republic will face a force that is very, very powerful," the State Department wrote. "We have said this before, and we say it again: Do not play games with President Trump," they added. (Source)
