Iran’s supreme leader rules out negotiations with Israel

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that the country will continue responding to Israeli attacks and will never negotiate with Israel.

“We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” Khamenei said in a statement on X.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that Washington knows "exactly" where Khamenei is, saying he is safe "for now" while warning that "our patience is wearing thin."

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Iran said at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the Israeli assault.