US must not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war against Iran: Senator Bernie Sanders

Iran will not surrender: Khamenei

TEHRAN: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday

that the country remains steadfast amid its conflict with Israel and

will not surrender to anyone amid pressure, according to the

Tasnim news agency.

In a televised address, Khamenei praised the "steadfast, courageous,

and timely" response of the Iranian people to what he called "the

foolish and malicious aggression" of Israel. He said the nation's

resilience reflected "the growth of rationality and spirituality" in the

country.

"The Iranian nation stands firm against an imposed war, just as it

will stand firm against an imposed peace. This nation will not

surrender to anyone under pressure," Tasnim quoted Khamenei as

saying.

Khamenei also warned that any American military intervention

would cause "irreparable damage." "Those who know Iran and its

history understand that threatening this nation is futile," he said.

Khamenei's remarks followed a series of social media posts from

U.S. President DonaldTrump on Tuesday, in which he demanded

Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" and appeared to suggest

targeting Khamenei personally. The posts fueled speculation that

Trump could involve the U.S. military in the conflict.

The aerial conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day,

with nearly 600 killed in Iran and 24 in Israel. The escalation began

after Israel launched surprise airstrikes across Iran on June 13.

US must not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war against Iran:

Senator Bernie Sanders

US Senator Bernie Sanders has strongly condemned Israel’s recent

air strikes on Iran, calling it an illegal and reckless act that

undermines global security.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sanders warned that

the US must not become part of “Netanyahu’s illegal war”. “This

would be a major and deadly mistake,” Sanders wrote.

“Netanyahu’s unauthorised attack has made the world even more

dangerous. The US should immediately pursue a diplomatic solution

with the international community.”

Sanders criticised Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for

deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts by launching a surprise

strike on Iran, killing key members of Iran’s nuclear negotiation

team.

Talks between the US and Iran were scheduled to continue just days

later. “Whether you agree with Iran’s corrupt and authoritarian

regime or not, this attack is a clear violation of international law and

the UN Charter,” Sanders emphasized.

He also warned against US military or financial involvement,

reiterating that only Congress can authorise offensive military

action, which has not been granted in this case. “The US Constitution

is crystal clear—no war without congressional approval. Any

participation would be illegal,” he said.

In a scathing rebuke of Netanyahu, Sanders added, “Let’s be clear

about who Netanyahu is: a war criminal, indicted by the

International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza, including

deliberate starvation and attacks on civilians.”

He highlighted ongoing humanitarian violations, stating, “Israel

continues to block UN and humanitarian aid from reaching

desperate civilians in Gaza. In recent weeks alone, Israeli forces have

killed hundreds of civilians attempting to access limited aid

distribution points.”

Calling Israel a “rogue state” under extremist leadership, Sanders

concluded: “Netanyahu’s unilateral and illegal strike on Iran is

another grave violation of international law. The US must not be

dragged into another disastrous war.”–NNI