Iran's Leader Warns US of 'Severe Slaps' After Trump's Fiery Houthi Threats

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a sharp warning on Friday, cautioning the United States against acting "with malice." He declared that such actions could lead to "severe slaps" in response to President Donald Trump's recent threats concerning Yemen's Houthi forces. The remarks were reported by Reuters, underscoring escalating tensions in the region.

Khamenei dismissed American claims that Iran controls regional resistance groups, including Yemen’s Houthis, branding such statements as misguided. "Americans make a big mistake and call regional resistance centers Iranian proxies. What does proxy mean? The Yemeni nation has its own motivation and the resistance groups in the region have their own motivations. Iran doesn't need proxies," he said, clearly attempting to distance Tehran from the direct management of these groups.

Asserting Iran's defensive posture, Khamenei added, "We have never started a confrontation or conflict with anyone. However, if anyone acts with malice and initiates it, they will receive severe slaps." This rhetoric marks a continuation of Iran's strategy to project itself as a victim of external aggression while warning of its capacity for retaliation.

Trump, unfazed by these assertions, took to Truth Social earlier in the week to hold Iran directly accountable for the actions of the Houthis. He stated, "Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!"

The former president didn’t mince words, calling the Houthis "sinister mobsters and thugs" and alleging that all their activities stem from Iranian support. He accused Tehran of supplying the Houthis with weapons, funding, and intelligence, while controlling their political and military operations. A fiery Trump warned of "great force" in response to any further attacks, leaving no ambiguity about his stance.

Backing up the rhetoric with action, U.S. Central Command confirmed Saturday that it had launched precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. They described the operations as a move to defend American interests and restore freedom of navigation in the region. Hours later, Trump announced that he had ordered decisive military action, reinforcing his hardline approach.

The back-and-forth between Trump and Khamenei highlights a sharp escalation in the rhetoric and military posturing between the U.S. and Iran. The world watches as this high-stakes game unfolds, with potential consequences for the already volatile Middle East.