Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene. In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a ceremony meeting a group of officials, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 8, 2025. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP Photo
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the U.S. is in a state of "panic" over growing resistance in the region, condemning its military strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Tehran rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's warning against Iranian support for the Houthis, saying the group operates independently. Khamenei said that Yemen would ultimately emerge victorious, framing the Western airstrikes as proof of the Houthis' growing strength.
Newsweek has reached out to the Iran's Foreign Ministry and the State Department for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The strikes mark a significant escalation in the region, where Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have disrupted global trade and triggered a U.S. military response. Iran's stand further increases tensions with Washington which are already heightened as Trump tries to apply pressure over its nuclear program, raising the risk of further confrontation.
What to Know
Khamenei framed the strikes as evidence that the U.S. and its allies fear the growing strength of regional resistance. "The nation of #Yemen is definitely victorious. The only path is that of resistance," he posted on his X account. He further argued that Western military action reflects anxiety over shifting power dynamics, stating, "That which has caused the US and its allies to panic today is the fact that the Muslim nations are standing firmly and that this resistance will prove to be effective."
Iran Rejects US Warnings
Tehran says that the Houthis are an independent force, despite accusations that Iran has supplied them with weapons and intelligence. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump's warning, stating that the U.S. has no right to dictate Iran's foreign policy.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salami reinforced this position, "We have always declared, and we declare today, that the Yemenis are an independent and free nation in their own land and have an independent national policy."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei condemned the U.S. airstrikes as violations of international law and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
US Strikes and Goals
The U.S. launched coordinated airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Sanaa, Taiz, and Dahyan. U.S. officials, as reported by The New York Times, said the strikes were also intended as a warning to Iran. Trump has reportedly authorized a more aggressive military response than the previous Biden administration.
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a think-tank that advocates for a U.S. foreign policy centered on diplomacy and military restraint told Newsweek, "Trump's renewed attacks on Yemen is a repeat of Biden's failed strategy. Intensifying the attacks is not likely to change that reality. If the goal is to end the Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea, then the only time that has occurred is when there's been a working ceasefire in Gaza."
What People Are Saying
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated: "The United States government has no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy. That era ended in 1979."
U.S. President Donald Trump defended the strikes, warning Iran: "If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft told Newsweek : "Reality is that there is no vital U.S. interest here that justifies this bombing campaign. The valid goals of protecting the sea lanes are much more effectively achieved by ending the war in Gaza rather than sparking a new war in Yemen."
What Happens Next
With U.S. airstrikes ongoing and Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels continuing, the conflict is set to intensify. Iran's position and potential diplomatic actions at the UN could influence the next phase of the crisis.
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This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 4:32 AM.