STORY: Iran is ready to respond to any renewed military attack, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday (July 16), adding that Tehran was capable of delivering a bigger blow to adversaries than the one it gave during the 12-day Iran-Israel war.

"The fact that our nation is ready to face the power of the United States and its dog on a leash, the Zionist regime (Israel), is very praiseworthy," Khamenei said in comments carried by state TV.

Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last month, saying that they were part of a program geared towards developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes.

"The base attacked by Iran was an extremely sensitive American regional base," Khamenei said in reference to an Iranian missile barrage on Al Udeid base in Qatar, adding "an even bigger blow could be inflicted on the U.S. and others."

Iran is under pressure to resume nuclear talks with the U.S. as Washington and three major European countries have agreed to set the end of August as the deadline for a deal.

If no progress is reached by then, France's foreign minister warned international sanctions would be reapplied via the United Nations snapback mechanism.

"In both the diplomatic and military fields, whenever we enter the stage we do so with our hands full and not from a position of weakness," Khamenei said.

He urged diplomats to heed "guidelines" and vigorously continue their work, without elaborating.

Iran's parliament shared a statement on Wednesday saying the country should not resume nuclear talks with the U.S. as long as preconditions are unmet.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Iran ready to respond to any new attack, supreme leader says

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (JULY 16, 2025)(POOL VIA WANA)P - No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International.)

1. IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI SEATED DURING MEETING WITH JUDICIARY OFFICIALS

2. KHAMENEI SPEAKING (NOT A SOUNDBITE)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS):

“The fact that a nation, a country, a military force in a country consider this self-confidence in itself, that it is ready to face the power of America and its chain dog in the region, the Zionist regime, face to face, this self-confidence, this is one of the very, very important values."

4. KHAMENEI SEATED

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS):

"We did not welcome the war, everyone should know this. Yes, we know the Zionist regime as a cancer, we also consider the American regime a criminal for supporting it. But we did not welcome the war and we did not want the war. But when the enemy attacked, our response was crushing. Everyone should pay attention to this."

6. VARIOUS OF KHAMENEI SEATED

7. (SOUNDBITE)(Farsi) IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS):

“Our counterattack on America was a very sensitive blow. Now, God willing, some time will pass; a few months or a few years, I don't know how long but the censorship will be lifted, and then it will become clear what Iran did; The centre that Iran attacked was an extremely sensitive centre for America in this region."

8. KHAMENEI SEATED

9.(SOUNDBITE)(Farsi) IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS):

"(Iran is never weak against the enemy) Because we have all the necessary tools, we have logic and we have strength, both in the fields of diplomacy and in the military, God willing, whenever we enter, we will enter with full hands. By God's grace."

10. KHAMENEI SPEAKING