Iran Leader Warns Enemies of ‘New Defeats’ Ahead

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain former leader of Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that the country’s armed forces are prepared to inflict fresh defeats on their adversaries, marking Army Day with a strongly worded message.

In a post shared on Telegram, Khamenei said the Iranian military has exposed the “weakness and humiliation” of its enemies, claiming that its drones can strike “American and Zionist forces” with speed and precision.

He added that the navy stands ready to make enemies “taste the bitterness of new defeats”, signalling Iran’s continued readiness to respond to threats.

The message did not refer to the Strait of Hormuz or the ongoing tensions and indirect contacts between Iran and the United States.

Khamenei framed the current situation as part of a broader historical struggle, linking it to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and subsequent conflicts. He said the army has consistently stood “in its rightful place”, describing it as a force rooted in the people.

He also paid tribute to his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier this year, crediting him with strengthening Iran’s armed forces over several decades.

Khamenei, who assumed office in early March, has not made a public appearance since taking leadership.

In his concluding remarks, he expressed condolences to the families of those killed in what he described as a war imposed on Iran by the United States and Israel.