The Americans' only place in the Persian Gulf is at the bottom of the sea, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei thundered in a written statement reported by Iranian state-controlled media.
Iran will protect its nuclear and missile capabilities, he was reported to have said. Since the younger Khamenei took over leadership from his father, who was killed in the initial US and Israeli attacks on Iran, he has communicated only in writing and is reported to be injured and isolated.
Khamenei's statement comes at the same time that Trump is expected to receive a statement about new American attack plans against Iran.
According to sources cited by Axios, the US military command Centcom has prepared a plan with "rapid and powerful" waves of attacks against Iran, likely targeting infrastructure. The aim is said to be to break the deadlock in negotiations between the US and Iran.
Centcom commander Brad Cooper and Defense Secretary Dan Caine are reportedly set to attend Thursday's meeting. Trump received a similar briefing from Cooper on February 26 - two days before the US and Israel attacked Iran and started the war.
Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, there were incorrect time references.
