Supreme Leader Khamenei delivered a televised message, declaring that the Iranian navy is ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on the United States and Israel.

"Just as Iranian drones strike with lightning speed against the United States and Israel, our naval forces are also ready to inflict new bitter defeats on our enemies," Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a televised message on April 18.

April 18 is the anniversary of the founding of the Iranian military. In the message, Khamenei described the Iranian armed forces as having "courageously defended their territory, seas, and flag" against military actions by the United States and Israel.

"With the unwavering support of religious faith and the people, the Iranian military has confronted two leading forces of untrustworthiness and arrogance, exposing their weakness and failure to the world," the Supreme Leader stated.

Khamenei said that Iran needs to make efforts to boost the development of its military, and indicated that the necessary measures would be implemented soon.

People watch a message from Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran on March 12. Photo: AFP

The warning came as the Iranian Supreme Leader's statement comes as the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US expires on April 22. The first round of talks between the two countries on April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to reach an agreement on key issues, such as control of the Strait of Hormuz and whether Iran can continue enriching uranium.

Sources familiar with the matter say the US proposed Iran suspend all nuclear activities for 20 years, while Tehran might accept a 3-5 year period. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said on the evening of April 18 that the US and Iran "have made progress in negotiations, but there is still a large gap between the two sides."

Mediators are pushing for a two-week extension of the ceasefire between the US and Iran and a second round of talks to find a long-term solution to the conflict, but the process has not made significant progress.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said the two sides have not set a date for the second round of talks, adding that a framework for mutual understanding needs to be reached first. Meanwhile, on April 17, President Donald Trump warned that the US might not extend the ceasefire and could resume its bombing campaign if a long-term agreement is not reached with Tehran.