ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday stressed that it will continue to follow Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s foreign policy directives and condemned US President Donald Trump’s recent threats of military action amid high tensions with Washington. 

In a statement, the ministry declared “conscious and firm loyalty and renewal of allegiance to the path outlined by the great founder of the Islamic Revolution,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding, “we continue to consider ourselves committed to following His Highness's guidelines and orders in the field of foreign policy and international relations.” 

The ministry also condemned recent comments by Washington directed at Tehran, as tensions between Iran and the US remain high. 

Washington warned Iran earlier this month of potential attacks if it continues cracking down on protesters or expands its nuclear and missile programs, and Tehran responded with threats of retaliation.

The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and its accompanying strike group have been redirected from the South China Sea to the Middle East in recent weeks.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran reached their peak when US President Donald Trump canceled talks with Iranian officials and told protestors in Iran that “help is on its way,” with him later saying the killings had stopped. Iran, however, has denied the allegations. 

Trump on Monday said Washington has “a big armada next to Iran,” that is “bigger than Venezuela,” and noted that Tehran has repeatedly asked for talks.

Iran’s top security bodies have warned of strong retaliation if the US or Israel carries out renewed strikes on Tehran, saying any attack on Khamenei would be considered “war against Islam.”

While the US has expressed hope for Iran’s cooperation in reaching an agreement, Tehran has renewed threats against Washington and Tel Aviv, labeling recent protests as a continuation of June’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since late last year, which have spread to the majority of provinces and increasingly targeted the government. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that Iranian security forces have killed more than 6,100 protesters, injured over 11,000, and arrested more than 41,800.