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The leader of Iran has warned the United States and Israel of a “teeth-breaking” response due to military action taken against Iran and Iranian-backed groups in recent weeks.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Two weeks ago, Israel launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian military sites, targeting approximately 20 locations across regions like Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran. These strikes were in response to a large-scale ballistic missile attack by Iran on October 1, which Iran launched following Israeli operations that killed senior leaders of Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas. In support of Israel and to deter further Iranian responses, the United States has also carried out military strikes on various Iranian-backed proxies in both Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

What Iran is saying: While speaking to students in Tehran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “The enemies, both the US and the Zionist regime (Israel), should know that they will definitely receive a teeth-breaking response for what they are doing against Iran and the resistance front. We are certainly doing everything necessary to prepare the Iranian nation to stand against arrogance, whether in terms of military readiness, armaments, or political actions, and thank God, our officials are currently engaged in this.”

Warnings from Israel: Shortly after the statements from the Ayatollah, IDF Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said, “If Iran makes the mistake of launching another missile barrage at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran … and strike very, very hard.”

This all comes as the Pentagon has significantly ramped up its military deployments to the Middle East to bolster defenses and support Israel amidst escalating tensions with Iran. In the last few weeks, the United States has sent additional ballistic missile defense systems to Israel, along with a fleet of destroyers equipped for missile interception. The Pentagon has also deployed multiple fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft for refueling operations, and B-52 long-range bombers capable of strategic strikes. These reinforcements are part of a broader effort by the US to deter Iranian aggression in the region.