Move forward with determination, not fear: Khamenei to Iranian people

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on the Iranian people to remain steadfast and unafraid in the face of Israeli aggression, reports BBC.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ayatollah Khamenei warned that showing weakness could embolden the enemy. “If the enemy senses that you are afraid, they will not stop pursuing you,” he wrote. Praising the Iranian public for their resilience, he urged them to continue on their path “with even stronger resolve.”

The message came amid escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, following a second Israeli airstrike on the Natanz nuclear facility late Wednesday night. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, claiming the site was being used for the development of nuclear weapons.

Natanz, also known as the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Nuclear Facility, is one of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear sites, located near the city of Ahmedabad. Israeli officials said the site contained “special parts and materials” critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and that ongoing projects there were designed to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme.

This is the second attack on Natanz since hostilities flared on 14 June, when an earlier Israeli strike reportedly killed several senior Iranian military officials. The conflict has raised fears of a wider regional escalation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also addressed the nation via social media, urging unity and resolve. “We will overcome these difficult days,” he said, adding that all government institutions had been instructed to operate at full capacity in service of the nation. “You need patience and support without turning away from anything,” he told citizens.

President Pezeshkian expressed confidence that Iran would prevail through faith and solidarity. “With the grace of God and with the help of compassion and unity, we will get through this crisis,” he said.