ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US military intervention in the Iran Israel war will cause them “irreparable damage,” during a televised speech on Wednesday.

The Iranian supreme leader described the Israeli attack as a “foolish and malicious aggression,” asserting that Iran will stand firm against an “imposed war,” and will not surrender in the face of imposition.

Israel on Friday launched a comprehensive strike on Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities and killing dozens of high-ranking military leaders, which prompted a retaliatory campaign by the Iranian regime that has seen the two countries trading fire for the past six days.

“Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history, will never speak to this nation in a threatening tone because the Iranian nation will not surrender, and the Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage,” Khamenei’s speech entailed. 

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly shut down any speculation of US involvement in the Israeli move on the first night of the conflict, saying that the attack was a “unilateral” act by Israel and warning Iran against targeting US interests in the area. 

The US narrative however has seen a shift in recent days, with President Donald Trump cutting a G7 meeting short on Tuesday to meet with his National Security Council in Washington, concurrent with a series of hostile tweets by the US president toward Iran. 

CNN reported on Tuesday that Trump was growing “increasingly warm,” to the idea of using US military assets to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and shifting away from pursuing a diplomatic solution.

“It was expected that the United States would participate in this malicious act, and recent statements reinforce this,” Khamenei added.

The conflict has thus far killed hundreds and injured over 2,600 more since its outbreak less than a week ago, and has sparked regional unease among leaders in the Middle East, who fret an eventual spillover to the rest of the countries in the region.