TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday vowed to teach the United States “unforgettable lessons” as hostilities intensified and Washington confirmed its first military deaths since fighting resumed.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Khamenei said recent US attacks had demonstrated the “worthlessness” of President Donald Trump’s commitments under the now-collapsed ceasefire agreement.
“Now that the American enemy seeks to incite war and bear its most serious consequences, it should know that the dear Iranian nation and the axis of resistance have unforgettable lessons to offer it,” he said.
The remarks came after US Central Command (Centcom) said two American service members were killed and another remained missing following Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan, raising the US military death toll to 16 since the conflict began on February 28.
How has Iran responded to renewed US strikes?
Iranian officials said Tehran had expanded its military response following a week of US strikes, launching attacks against US-linked facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Kuwaiti authorities said Iranian strikes hit an oil facility as well as power and water infrastructure, while Bahrain’s military reported intercepting incoming attacks. Iran also claimed to have targeted the US Al-Azraq base in Jordan.
Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Khamenei, warned that Iran would resume “full-scale offensive operations” if US strikes continued, adding that Tehran would no longer limit itself to proportional retaliation.
Iran also accused the United States of targeting civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and desalination plants in southern Hormozgan province, where officials said water supplies to several villages had been disrupted.
What does the escalation mean for ceasefire efforts?
The latest escalation follows the collapse of a preliminary US-Iran ceasefire agreement signed last month. Iranian officials said the United States had violated the memorandum by resuming military operations, prompting Tehran to suspend its own commitments.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Washington had “violated and stopped all its commitments” under the agreement.
Iran’s Health Ministry said 50 people had been killed and more than 500 wounded since fighting resumed. Meanwhile, mediators continue efforts to revive negotiations, although prospects for an immediate political settlement remain uncertain amid ongoing military exchanges.