Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei broke his silence Monday night with a defiant message: “We will not surrender to any aggression.” His statement came just hours after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar — a retaliatory move that’s only further strained hopes for diplomacy in the region.

The missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base followed U.S. airstrikes on three of Iran’s major nuclear sites over the weekend. Though no casualties were reported, the message from Tehran was loud and clear: the fight isn’t over.

Khamenei Emerges with Defiant Warning

In his first public statement since the hostilities erupted, the 86-year-old Khamenei posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Iran was not the instigator of the conflict but would not tolerate being targeted.

“We will not surrender to any aggression. This is the logic behind the Iranian nation,” the post read.

Khamenei had reportedly gone into hiding since fighting began last Friday, complicating diplomatic efforts. U.S. officials say negotiations with Iran have stalled because Khamenei must personally approve any major decisions.

U.S. Frustrated by Stalled Talks, Iran Threatens More Retaliation

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has maintained contact with Iranian officials since the strikes began, but meaningful talks have stalled. Iranian officials say retaliation will continue unless U.S. and Israeli attacks stop. “We can talk after we punish the aggressor,” one Iranian official told Reuters.

Meanwhile, President Trump took to Truth Social to downplay Iran’s response, calling it a “very weak retaliation.” He also slammed media reports questioning the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. “The sites we hit were totally destroyed,” Trump claimed. “Only the Fake News would say otherwise.”

Israel: The End May Be Near — But More Targets Remain

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli officials are signaling they may be close to achieving their military objectives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet Monday to discuss next steps, even as reports suggest Israel is sending back-channel messages to Tehran, aiming to wind down the air and missile exchange within days.

Still, Israel is keeping its options open. Military officials say thousands of potential targets remain — especially infrastructure linked to Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. One Israeli source said they are using Lebanon as a model: neutralize hostile forces, prevent rebuilding, and keep pressure on.

Global Condemnation Mounts After Iran’s Qatar Strike

Iran’s missile attack on the U.S. base in Qatar drew swift condemnation from regional and global powers. While Iran claimed it targeted the base outside populated areas and gave Doha advance notice to avoid casualties, countries across the region weren’t convinced.

• Qatar called the attack “a blatant violation of sovereignty” and reserved the right to respond proportionally.

• France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint and a return to diplomacy, calling the situation a “spiral of chaos.”

• Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Palestinian Authority all denounced Iran’s actions, reaffirming support for Qatar.

Despite Tehran’s claims that the strike posed “no threat to our friendly and brotherly country,” the move is widely seen as a dangerous escalation.

What Triggered It All: U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites

This latest round of hostilities kicked off early Sunday, when U.S. forces bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Those strikes followed Israel’s June 13 preemptive attacks on Iranian missile infrastructure, generals, and nuclear scientists — after years of warnings that Tehran was inching closer to nuclear weapon capability.

While Iran has long denied pursuing nuclear arms, it continues enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, has blocked international inspectors, and ramped up its missile development. Israel now claims Tehran has taken clear steps toward weaponization.

Iran’s earlier retaliation on Israel included launching over 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones, which killed 24 civilians and injured thousands. Many of those missiles hit residential buildings, a hospital, and a university, causing widespread destruction.

Source: The Times Of Israel – Khamenei vows Iran ‘won’t surrender’ as Israel looks to wrap up war in coming days

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Iran fired a volley of missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday night, in what appears to be a carefully calibrated retaliation for American airstrikes that targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities just a day earlier.

While Iran declared the attack a “mighty and successful response,” the reality on the ground tells a different story: No injuries were reported, no critical damage occurred, and both the U.S. and Qatar had advance warning before the missiles struck.

A Strike with a Message—Not a Mass Casualty Event

Iran’s state television proudly broadcast martial music and footage claiming six missiles hit the Al Udeid base, which houses about 10,000 American troops. But U.S. officials pushed back, saying no missiles made contact with the base and that most, if not all, were intercepted.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strike, calling it a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty and a breach of international law. Officials said their defense systems intercepted the majority of the 19 missiles fired, and the base had been evacuated in advance as a precaution.

Advance Warning and Escalation Control

Interestingly, both Iran and the U.S. seem to have gone out of their way to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. Iranian officials reportedly gave Qatar advance notice of the attack — a signal that Tehran may have intended this strike to be more symbolic than strategic.

President Trump confirmed as much, writing on his Truth Social platform that the missile strike was a “very weak response” to what he called the “obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Still, he thanked Iran for the early warning, which “made it possible for no lives to be lost.”

“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region,” he added, suggesting the U.S. response had served its purpose.

What Triggered the Exchange

The missile strike came one day after U.S. forces bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan — which American officials say were severely damaged. These strikes followed Israel’s earlier campaign of targeted attacks against Iranian nuclear and military sites, escalating fears that Tehran was fast-tracking its path to a nuclear weapon.

In response, Iran’s National Security Council said the number of missiles fired at Al Udeid was intentionally matched to the number of bombs used in the U.S. strikes — a tit-for-tat gesture meant to send a message without crossing too many red lines.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X just before the attack, saying, “We neither initiated the war nor seek it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran unanswered.”

Regional Fallout and Warnings of Wider War

Qatar wasn’t alone in taking precautions. As missiles streaked toward the Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE also temporarily closed their airspace. Airlines canceled flights, and the U.S. base at Ain al-Asad in Iraq activated its air defenses in anticipation of a wider assault that, fortunately, never came.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several European countries condemned Iran’s attack and reiterated calls for diplomacy.

Qatari spokesperson Majed Al Ansari warned that continued escalation could have “catastrophic repercussions for international peace and security,” urging all sides to prioritize diplomacy and de-escalation.

What Comes Next?

While the immediate threat appears to have passed, tensions remain high. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran will continue to retaliate unless both U.S. and Israeli military actions stop — but also left the door open to negotiations.

The U.S. has yet to issue a formal military response, but the pattern so far suggests both sides are walking a fine line: demonstrating strength while avoiding a full-scale war neither seems to want.

Whether this exchange marks the peak of the current crisis or merely a pause before the next round remains to be seen.

Source: The Times Of Israel – Iran fires missiles at American base in Qatar in retaliation for US strikes; none hurt

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Qatar announced on Saturday that it has halted its mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas for a Gaza ceasefire, citing a lack of good-faith negotiations from both parties.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, stated that Qatar informed both parties 10 days ago that if they couldn’t reach an agreement, it would suspend its mediation. “The State of Qatar notified the parties during the last attempts to reach an agreement that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” Al-Ansari said.

Qatar has played a central role in mediation for over a year, working to secure a ceasefire and arrange a hostage release deal—an objective highly prioritized by U.S. President Joe Biden. However, despite months of negotiations, both goals remain unresolved.

As part of its decision, Qatar has also closed Hamas’ political office in Doha. According to a diplomatic source familiar with the matter, Doha suspended the office about a week ago due to the stalled negotiations and lack of genuine willingness to engage from both sides. “The office won’t be operational, so [Hamas] may leave. The office could open again if talks restart,” the diplomat said. Although Hamas officials may leave Qatar, they have not been given a specific deadline.

U.S. and Qatari sources confirmed that the U.S. recently requested Qatar take this step, but a Qatari diplomatic source emphasized that the decision was made independently, not due to external pressure.

In response to media inquiries, the White House National Security Council declined to comment. However, a senior U.S. administration official had remarked on Friday, “After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, [Hamas] leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner.” The official praised Qatar’s past efforts in mediation, especially for helping secure the release of nearly 200 hostages last year, but expressed frustration at Hamas’ refusal to release any hostages in recent talks in Cairo.

A Hamas representative dismissed reports of their potential expulsion from Qatar as “baseless” and a “pressure tactic.”

Qatar’s decision to pause its mediator role follows recent tensions, including the death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Hamas’ rejection of another ceasefire proposal. The Hamas office in Doha may reopen if both parties return to the negotiating table with genuine intent to reach a peace agreement.

Earlier in April, Qatar had temporarily closed the Hamas office, leading officials to relocate to Turkey. At that time, requests from the Biden administration and Israel prompted Qatar to reopen the office to support renewed discussions.

Source

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