Agencies
Dubai
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals for a ceasefire with the United States. This comes as hostilities escalate in the ongoing conflict. Iran’s stance on retaliation against the US and Israel is described as very tough and serious.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals to reduce tensions or agree to a ceasefire with the United States, conveyed through two intermediary countries, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a senior Iranian official.
The official, who declined to be named, said Khamenei’s stance on retaliation against the United States and Israel was “very tough and serious” during his first foreign policy session since being named supreme leader. It was not clear whether he attended the session in person.
Khamenei reportedly said it was not “the right time for peace” until the US and Israel are “brought to their knees, accept defeat, and pay compensation,” according to the report.
The supreme leader has the final say in all matters of state in Iran, and no new images of him have been released since his selection to replace his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Some Iranian officials said he was lightly injured in the strikes that killed his father, while US officials suggested he suffered severe injuries.
The remarks come as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its third week, with at least 2,000 people reported killed and no signs of a breakthrough. According to Reuters, three sources said on March 14 that President Donald Trump’s administration has rebuffed attempts by Middle Eastern allies to initiate diplomatic talks to end the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, raising energy prices and fears of inflation.
