As the conflict between Israel and Iran continued to intensify on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump reportedly considering whether to bomb Iran to deal a permanent blow to its nuclear program, the Islamist nation's "Supreme Leader" Ali Hosseini Khamenei fired off a couple of X (formerly, Twitter) posts — in effect telling Trump where he could put his threats and demand for an "unconditional surrender" of the Iranian regime.

The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him.They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats.

So here's the thing about fear. Irrational fear — the fear of a constant worrier, for example — is fear of things that likely won't happen. 

Lacking fear, or feigning bravery in the face of mortal danger — false bravado, as it were — is a fool's game that untold numbers of despots have learned the hard way.

And legitimate fear — fear felt by the wise among us when danger is real — is not only wise, it's also brave — brave in the sense that it takes courage to admit one is legitimately fearful.

The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him.
They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025

Which one is Khamenei? The question is rhetorical.

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Khamenei's rhetoric got better — meaning even more foolish.

It isn’t wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender.

What should the Iranian nation surrender to? We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone. This is the logic of the Iranian nation. This is the spirit of the Iranian nation.

So what's the ayatollah thinking? I suspect he's either delusional or doesn't think Trump will follow through on his threats. Perhaps he's both. 

It isn’t wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender.
What should the Iranian nation surrender to? We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone. This is the logic of the Iranian nation. This is the spirit of the Iranian nation.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025

Also on Wednesday, Iran warned the U.S. that joining the conflict would mean "all-out war," as the Islamists again refused demands to abandon their nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Wednesday during an interview with Al Jazeera English:

Any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.

Finally, Trump was asked by a reporter what he thought about Iran's Supreme Leader refusing to surrender. Here's how that went down:

Reporter: "Mr. President, what do you say to the Supreme Leader of Iran who says that they will not surrender?

Trump: "I say 'Good luck.'"

In other words, play stupid games — win stupid prizes.

Q: "Mr. President, what do you say to the Supreme Leader of Iran who says that they will not surrender?"@POTUS: "I say, 'Good luck.'" pic.twitter.com/iXy5xfKNup

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 18, 2025

If I had to bet, I'd bet that Khamenei and his comrades in Tehran see this thing through to the end, which raises the question of the "72 virgins" thing — in my mind, at least.

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