Iran's supreme leader has promised a tough response to Israel's strikes

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel expects "severe punishment." He made the corresponding statement on Friday, June 13, on state television.

"Israel should expect severe punishment," The New York Times (NYT) quoted Khamenei as saying.

Iran's supreme leader also confirmed the deaths of a number of high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists.

It is noted that Khamenei did not call the United States complicit in Israel's military operation.

Shock mood: Israel discusses military solution to Iran's nuclear problem

Tehran is close to possessing weapons of mass destruction

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a preemptive strike on Iran earlier in the day. As a result, the head of the General Staff of the Iranian army and several high-ranking atomic scientists were killed.