Khamenei Calls West ‘Corrupt,’ Warns US Military

Tehran/New Delhi: In a series of pointed statements shared on his official X account on February 17, 2026, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a scathing indictment of Western civilization and liberal democracy, labeling them as ultimately corrupt and in decline after centuries of dominance.

Referring to a recent high-profile scandal pertaining to Epsteine Files, Khamenei stated: “Everything we had ever heard about their corruption is one thing; this affair of that morally corrupt island is another altogether. These are indicative of what Western civilization and liberal democracy are. They proceed for 200, 300 years and this is the ultimate outcome.”

He described the incident as just one example of deeper rot, adding: “This island of corruption is only one example. There is much more of this. Just as this was not apparent and then became exposed, there are many other things that will soon come to light.”

The remarks, part of a broader address touching on historical events and current tensions, come as Iran faces renewed U.S. pressure over its nuclear program and missile capabilities, including reports of American naval deployments in the region.

Khamenei also issued defiant warnings to the United States, mocking claims of military supremacy: “The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again.”

Addressing reported U.S. warship movements toward Iran, he countered: “The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”

He rejected U.S. demands to limit Iran’s missiles, calling such interference a “sign of the decline of the corrupt, oppressive US empire,” and emphasized Iran’s right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes like agriculture and healthcare, questioning American involvement: “What does it have to do with you Americans?”

Khamenei further highlighted President Trump’s acknowledgment that the U.S. failed to eliminate the Islamic Republic over 47 years, responding firmly: “You, too, will not be able to do this.”

The statements reinforce Iran’s longstanding narrative of resistance to perceived Western imperialism and moral hypocrisy, issued amid indirect nuclear talks and regional military posturing. No immediate official U.S. response to the specific remarks was available as of now.