Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the US would receive a strong blow if it acts on President Donald Trump's threat to bomb if Tehran does not reach a new nuclear deal with Washington.
Trump reiterated his threat on Sunday that Iran would be bombed if it does not accept his offer for talks outlined in a letter sent to Iran's leadership in early March, giving Tehran a two-month window to make a decision.
“The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow,” Khamenei said.
“If they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people will deal with them.”
Iranian authorities blame the West for recent unrest including 2022-2023 protests over the death in custody of [Mahsa Amini](https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2023-04-15-iran-announces-crackdown-on-people-who-promote-removing-the-veil/), a young woman detained for allegedly flouting hijab rules, and nationwide protests in 2019 over fuel price rises.