Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei predicted stiff resistance and bloody conflict if the United States and Israel were to launch attacks against Iran in order to disable its nuclear weapons program. Khamenei’s warning is given in light of leaked Israeli intelligence detailing plans for an attack by Israel on Iran that were in the implementation stages. Additionally, Iran has come under fire from the International Atomic Energy Agency that released a report detailing credible and overwhelming evidence to support the idea that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Defiance was also expressed by frothing dictatorial caricature Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who vowed Iran would not dismantle its program and would continue to exercise its sovereign right to pursue nuclear technology. Given Ahmadinejad’s declarations that Israel should be destroyed, it is understandable that Israel would see Iran, its suspected weapons program and Ahmadinejad as a clear and present threat to the Israeli state. To quote Khamenei from the New York Times: “”The Iranian nation is not a nation that only sits and watches threats coming from straw powers, which are internally eaten by worms.” The likelihood of an attack on Iran by the United States is slim because U.S. President Barack Obama faces a reelection campaign next year and war is extremely unpopular with his base; however, the U.S. will not allow Israel to act alone and President Obama may have his hand forced if the situation continues to deteriorate.