TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory over Israel and United States as he appeared in maiden televised address after ceasefire.
In his speech, Khamenei asserted that Iran’s military response had brought Israel to the brink of collapse and served as a “heavy slap” to the United States. His remarks came just days after Iran and Israel agreed to halt hostilities, following a deadly exchange of airstrikes and missile attacks that left hundreds dead.
He dismissed claims by Donald Trump that recent American strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “Nothing significant happened to our nuclear sites,” Khamenei said. “Their claims are exaggerated beyond belief. The United States achieved nothing substantial.”
He also criticized President Trump’s call for Iran to “surrender,” calling it an insult to the Iranian nation. “For a country with our history and pride, even uttering the word surrender is unacceptable,” he said, emphasizing the unity of the Iranian people in the face of foreign threats.
Tensions flared earlier this month when Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian positions. Iran retaliated with missile attacks, prompting U.S. involvement. The United States then carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar. No casualties were reported from the Iranian strike.
Despite conflicting accounts, Khamenei described Iran’s military response as a strategic success and issued a warning to both Israel and the U.S.: “If we are attacked again, the price our enemies pay will be severe.”
Us President Trump lately rejected Pentagon intelligence assessment that suggested Iran’s nuclear program had only been temporarily disrupted. POTUs maintained that the targeted facilities were “completely destroyed,” calling the operation one of the most successful U.S. military actions in recent history.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed president’s remarks, stating the evidence of the strike’s success “is buried under a mountain of rubble.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe later added that intelligence indicated Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “severely damaged.”
The fragile ceasefire remains in place, but with tensions still high and rhetoric escalating on both sides, the region remains on edge.
‘Neither War nor Peace can be forced on Iran’: Supreme Leader Khamenei fires back at Trump
