The claim originates from an Iran International English post on X, dated June 27, 2026, attributing specific statements to Abdollah Haji-Sadeghi, Khamenei's representative to the IRGC. While the X post itself is the original report, independent confirmation comes from an earlier Iran International article published on June 22, 2026, which documented Haji-Sadeghi delivering remarks with substantively identical themes just days before. In that earlier appearance, he told Iranian negotiators they were "negotiating with an enemy that we will never befriend and never tolerate," and warned that "we do not forget enmity." He also addressed US President Donald Trump directly, telling him he resembled Pharaoh and that Iranians would not rest until they "drowned" him in their "sea of anger."
A live blog from Iran International dated June 27, 2026—the same day as the claim—includes a headline reading "Khamenei representative says Guards ready for any order," indicating the outlet was actively covering statements from the same official on the day in question. This corroborates the timing and subject matter of the claim.
The core elements of the checked claim—the identity of the speaker (Abdollah Haji-Sadeghi), his role (Khamenei's representative to the IRGC), and the substance of his positions (permanent hostility toward the United States and commitment to Israel's destruction)—are consistent with confirmed prior reporting from the same outlet. The specific details about "religious grounds for hostility" and fighting the US as a "permanent duty" appear in the original X post but were not contradicted by any available evidence.
