Tehran: In his first official reaction following the deadly Israeli airstrike, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a stern message, declaring that Israel has charted its own path toward a "bitter and painful fate" and will soon face the consequences. His remarks come in the wake of a Friday night attack that claimed the lives of top Iranian military leaders, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC

Khamenei, addressing the Iranian people, condemned the Israeli strike as a brutal and criminal act carried out with “bloody and evil hands” on Iranian soil. He said the Zionist regime's true face had been further exposed by its deliberate targeting of residential areas. "The Zionist entity should prepare for a firm and unforgiving response," Khamenei warned.

Confirming the deaths of Iran’s senior military figures and prominent nuclear scientists in the strike, the Supreme Leader said that although Iran has lost several of its most capable commanders, their mission will continue without pause. “Their comrades and successors will swiftly step into their roles and carry forward the same commitment,” he assured.

Meanwhile, an Iranian military spokesperson accused Israel of executing the strike with indirect backing from the United States. However, Washington quickly distanced itself from the incident, reiterating that the U.S. had no involvement in the operation.

The situation remains highly volatile, with Iran signaling that retaliation is imminent, and international observers closely monitoring what could spiral into a broader regional conflict.