Top Iranian official responds to Hegseth's claim leaders 'hiding' like 'rats' |
Top Iranian official responds to Hegseth’s claim leaders ‘hiding’ like ‘rats’
A top Iranian official condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comparison of Iranian leaders to “rats” on Friday.
“Iran’s leadership is in no better shape, desperate and hiding, they’ve gone underground. That’s what rats do,” Hegseth said during a Friday morning press conference.
Ali Larijani, the secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, criticized Hegseth’s comments in a post on the social platform X on Friday afternoon.
“Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein’s island!” he said, referencing the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Several prominent business and political leaders were named in the Justice Department’s documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act last year.
Democrats have questioned President Trump’s connection to Epstein, noting their financial and personal ties. The president has repeatedly denied having had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.
In his post, Larijani included videos of him and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian greeting and taking pictures with people on the streets of Tehran. The pair participated in Quds Day on Friday, an annual march in support of Palestinians and in opposition to Israeli occupation.
The Iranian president called for unity among the Iranian people on Friday as the U.S. and Israel continue to launch joint strikes on the country, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Today, the government’s most important concern, besides making the necessary preparations for all-out defense, is to organize the affairs of the people,” Pezeshkian wrote on X. “The cooperation, empathy, and participation of all branches of government are essential, and the support of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution is a great asset for the government.”
Hegseth has vowed to continue strikes on Iran following the deaths of seven U.S. service members during Iranian counterstrikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East.
“Their deaths will not be in vain,” the secretary wrote on X. “We will honor them with action. We will hunt down the Iranians radicals responsible, dismantle their military capabilities, and ensure that justice is swift and absolute.”
“We stand stronger than ever, ready to avenge these fallen heroes and crush the threats in Iran that dare to challenge us,” Hegseth continued. “America does not yield; we advance, we prevail, and this we’ll defend.”
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