This statement is Khamenei’s first public reaction since US President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’.

In a social media post on X, Khamenei proclaimed, “The battle begins,” referencing Ali, the first imam of Shia Islam, and his historical conquest of the Jewish town of Khaybar in the 7th century, according to The Times of Israel.

The post, originally in Farsi, included an image of a man with a sword approaching a castle-like gate, with fiery streaks in the sky.

Shortly after, Khamenei reiterated his message, stating, “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.”