File photo (Image credit: AP)
Iran has warned that the US has crossed a “very dangerous red line” by killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.In an exclusive interview with CNN, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said that US President Donald Trump had caused serious consequences by authorizing the strike.
Khamenei’s death – Is Iran preparing for a wider war?
“We have no choice but to respond.”
Khatibzadeh said that Khamenei was not only a political leader, but also a major religious figure for millions of Shiite Muslims.
“Of course, from the religious side, he was a great religious leader, so a lot of Shiite followers across the region and around the world will react to that, and that’s very clear because President Trump crossed a very dangerous red line,” he told CNN.
He added: “We have no choice but to respond.”Khamenei (86 years old) was killed in joint American-Israeli raids that targeted Iranian military and government sites. His death has shaken the Islamic Republic’s leadership and raised fears of broader regional instability.
A wave of retaliation across the region
Following the strikes, Iran launched an unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks across the Middle East. The targets included countries that host US military bases, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the Associated Press news agency, there were reports of explosions in Tehran, with Israel saying they struck the “heart” of the Iranian capital. Meanwhile, Iran has launched missiles and drones at Israel, US facilities in the Gulf and cities including Dubai and Riyadh.
The Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard earlier threatened to launch its “most intense offensive operation” ever against Israel and American bases.The violence has disrupted air and sea traffic, caused civilian casualties, and damaged infrastructure in many countries.
Iran warns Gulf countries about American bases
Khatibzadeh told CNN that Tehran has contacted the Arab Gulf states about US military bases on their soil.He said: “We have communicated with them: Either close the American bases that constantly threaten Iran and constantly use them to abuse Iran, or we have no choice but to respond.”He added that Iran cannot directly strike American territory.He added: “Iran cannot reach American territory, so we have no choice but to attack any bases that fall under American jurisdiction.”Several Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. Qatar said eight people were wounded in attacks early Sunday, bringing the total injured to 16 since the conflict began.
Diplomacy is in doubt
When asked if diplomacy was still possible, Khatibzadeh said that Washington had repeatedly disappointed Tehran.He said: “The United States has disappointed Iran several times, and there was no need to start this aggression.”He added: “If President Trump did not want to see Iran respond… President Trump should not have started this war in the first place.” “It was a war of choice.”Meanwhile, Trump warned Iran against escalating further. He said in an online post that the United States would respond with unprecedented force if Tehran intensified its attacks.
Uncertain leadership in Tehran
As the conflict continued, Iran moved to stabilize its political system. The 66-year-old cleric, Ali Reza Arfi, has been appointed to a three-member leadership council that will govern until a new supreme leader is chosen.The council includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi.Meanwhile, Israeli officials claimed that their strikes killed several prominent Iranian military figures, including Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi. Iran has not confirmed these allegations.
The area is on the edge
The crisis has already spread beyond Iran and Israel. Protests broke out in places such as Karachi and Kashmir, while embassies across the region issued security warnings.The US embassies in Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Pakistan advised their employees and citizens to remain where they are. Many airports across the Middle East remain closed, leaving thousands of travelers stranded.With the exchange of threats and missiles between the two sides, and the phenomenon of distant diplomacy, the killing of Khamenei pushed the region into one of its most dangerous moments in years.
