Following President Trump’s warnings to Yemen’s Houthis, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned on Friday that the U.S. could face “severe slaps” if it acts “with malice,” according to reports.

Khamenei stated, according to Reuters, that Americans are mistaken to call regional resistance centers proxies. He argued that the Yemeni nation and regional resistance groups have their own motivations, and Iran does not need proxies.

Khamenei reportedly added that the U.S. issues threats, while claiming that Iran has never initiated a confrontation or conflict.

He was quoted as saying that while Iran has never started a conflict, anyone who initiates one with malice will face severe retaliation.

Trump stated on Monday that every shot fired by the Houthis from that point forward would be seen as a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of Iran, and Iran would be held responsible with dire consequences.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the hundreds of attacks by the Houthis, who he described as sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen and hated by the Yemeni people, all originate from Iran. He warned that any further attack or retaliation by the Houthis would be met with great force, with no guarantee of where that force would stop.

He added that Iran has played the innocent victim of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control. He claimed that Iran is dictating every move, providing weapons, money, sophisticated military equipment, and even intelligence.

U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday that it had initiated a series of precision strikes against targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday that he had ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

’ Taylor Penley, Andrea Margolis and Lucas Y. Tomlinson contributed to this report.