WANA (Jun 12) – Tehran’s temporary Friday prayers leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatami, issued a stern warning to Iran’s adversaries, declaring that the Islamic Republic will deliver a “hard slap” if the enemy commits any misstep or if any wrong move takes place.

 

Speaking during this week’s Friday sermons in the Iranian capital, Khatami emphasized that Iran’s enemies do not understand diplomacy or ceasefires, asserting they only understand the language of force. He stated that Iran’s armed forces have successfully demonstrated this power in practice and will continue to do so in the future.

 

Action on the Field and the Rejection of Compromise

Reflecting on the regional developments of the past week, Khatami highlighted Iran’s direct intervention in support of Hezbollah and the subsequent retreat of its adversaries.

 

He stressed that the warnings from Iranian military officials are not mere empty slogans, pointing to recent operations as concrete proof that Iran will retaliate against any aggression.

 

He noted that the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force confirmed the promised actions had taken place and were fully realized on the field.

A man holds a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, during Friday prayer in Tehran, Iran, June 12, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Khatami further characterized Iran’s opponents as oath-breakers who have a history of aggression and breaking promises. While admitting he was not privy to the specific details or behind-the-scenes negotiations of recent developments, the cleric sent a clear message to state negotiators, reminding them that the language of the Iranian nation is strictly the language of dignity, independence, and resistance against any form of humiliation.

Regional Unity and Global Stances

Addressing domestic and regional dynamics, Khatami noted that true believers remain calm and unwavering during crises, viewing the current geopolitical friction as a definitive confrontation between the front of faith and the front of disbelief.

 

He praised the growing unity within the regional Axis of Resistance, specifically pointing to the coordinated solidarity demonstrated by Yemen’s Ansarullah, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces.

 

On the U.S. Administration: Khatami also addressed Washington, referencing comments made by the U.S. President regarding how Iranians view American leadership. He countered that the U.S. administration’s contradictory actions and positions simply highlight their own institutional instability and lack of coherent decision-making.

 

Concluding his sermon, Khatami reiterated the foundational ethos of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, stating that the Iranian nation revolted specifically so that it would never surrender, and by divine grace, it never will.

People chant during Friday prayer in Tehran, Iran, June 12, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)