Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel and claimed his country had dealt a “hand slap” to the United States, in his first public remarks since a ceasefire ended the recent conflict between the two nations.
In a video broadcast on Iranian state television on Thursday, Khamenei appeared more fatigued compared to his last public message on June 19. He asserted that the U.S. intervened in the war solely because it feared the complete destruction of the Israeli regime, but said Washington gained nothing from the conflict.
“The Islamic Republic emerged victorious and retaliated by delivering a hand slap to America’s face,” Khamenei said, likely referring to Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar earlier this week, which caused no casualties.
The 86-year-old leader has remained away from public view since the war began on June 13, when Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted senior military figures. Following a U.S. airstrike on June 22 against the nuclear sites, President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire, which took effect on Tuesday.
