Fact Check: Iran's leader vows not to surrender, warns U.S. against military intervention.

Fact Check: "Iran's leader vows not to surrender, warns U.S. against military intervention."

What We Know

On June 18, 2025, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender" amid escalating tensions due to Israeli military actions against Iran. Khamenei stated that the Iranian nation is "not one to surrender" and warned that any military involvement by the U.S. would lead to "irreparable damage" to American interests (AP News, New York Times). This statement came during a period of heightened military conflict, with Israel conducting airstrikes against Iranian targets, prompting a strong response from Khamenei (Reuters).

Analysis

The claim that Khamenei vowed not to surrender and warned the U.S. against military intervention is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Khamenei's remarks were made in a televised address, where he dismissed Trump's threats as "absurd" and reiterated Iran's resilience against external pressures (PBS).

The context of these statements is critical; they were made in response to a direct challenge from the U.S. President, who had recently escalated rhetoric regarding military options against Iran. Trump's comments about knowing Khamenei's location but not planning to kill him "at least not for now" further intensified the situation (AP News).

The reliability of the sources reporting on Khamenei's statements is high. Major news outlets such as the Associated Press, New York Times, and Reuters have established reputations for accurate reporting, particularly in matters of international relations and conflict. The consistency across these reports reinforces the credibility of Khamenei's statements and the seriousness of the situation.

Conclusion

The claim that "Iran's leader vows not to surrender, warns U.S. against military intervention" is True. Khamenei's statements clearly indicate a refusal to capitulate to U.S. demands and a warning against military involvement, aligning with the reports from multiple reputable news sources.

Fact Check: Iran's leader vows not to surrender, warns U.S. against military intervention.