Iran's president warns strikes on Khamenei would lead to "all-out war"

IRANIAN President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that any attack on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be considered a declaration of "all-out war" against the Iranian nation, following a sharp exchange of rhetoric with U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Pezeshkian said any attack on Iran's leader would mean all-out war and accused the US of worsening tensions and harming Iran's economy.
Iran's foreign ministry said the US interferes in Iran's affairs and is responsible for escalating tensions.
Tehran criticised Germany for barring Iran from the Munich Security Conference, calling it evidence of intolerance toward differing views.

Pezeshkian's comments, posted on social media platform X, come amid heightened tensions after Trump told Politico on Saturday that it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."

"Any attack on our great leader will be tantamount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation," Pezeshkian wrote.

The Iranian president also blamed Washington for the country's economic woes, citing "longstanding hostility" and "inhumane sanctions" imposed by the United States and its allies as the primary drivers of hardship for the Iranian people.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that it is the United States that interferes in Iran's affairs and should be responsible for escalating tensions with Tehran.

He added that the intentions of hostile forces were clear, but many of their attempts ultimately ended in failure.

In response to the cancellation of an invitation for Iran to attend the Munich Security Conference, the spokesman said that the decision was made under pressure from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said the move revealed the reality that some countries who claim to be advocates for dialogue and freedom of speech are actually unable to tolerate different voices.