In his first remarks since the ceasefire between Iran and Israel went in to effect, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared “victory over the U.S. regime” and “the fallacious Zionist regime.”
“I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime,” Khamenei, whose exact whereabouts still remain unknown, stated on X Thursday. The Supreme Leader had been holed up in a secret location or bunker since June 13, 2025, due to security concerns. He is reportedly being protected by a special forces unit of the Revolutionary Guards
“With all that commotion and all those claims, the Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic,” he added.
Israel obliterated Iranian nuclear and military facilities, and assassinated high-profile security, intelligence and military figures, as well as nuclear scientists during the 12-day war.
The majority of the ballistic missiles Iran fired into Israeli towns and cities were intercepted and the few that landed destroyed apartment buildings and other mostly civilian sites. Only five out of the 50 to 60 impacts struck military or energy infrastructure facilities, according to an Institute For the Study of War (ISW) report.
“Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program destroyed Iranian capabilities and forced Iran to launch fewer and smaller attacks on Israel, most of which were intercepted by the IDF,” ISW reported.
Only 28 people in Israel were reportedly killed compared to at least 974 people in Iran, the Associated Press reported.
“My congratulations on our dear Iran’s victory over the US regime,” Khamenei, 86, continued on X. “The US regime entered the war directly because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. It entered the war in an effort to save that regime but achieved nothing.”
Khamenei went on to post: “The Islamic Republic delivered a heavy slap to the US’s face. It attacked and inflicted damage on the Al-Udeid Air Base, which is one of the key US bases in the region.” He added: “The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter. Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price.”
Iran launched multiple missiles toward Al-Udeid Air Base on Monday in a face-saving act of retaliation, but Qatar’s air defenses intercepted all but one of the missiles.
On Truth Social, President Trump said that no one was harmed in the attacks and that he was glad to see Iran “get it out of their system.”
Trump said 14 missiles were fired and 13 were successfully intercepted. He explained that the remaining missile was left alone because it wasn’t heading toward any discernable target.
During his remarks Saturday night following the U.S. missile strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites, Trump said if Iran didn’t surrender, the United States will hit those other targets “with precision, speed and skill.”
Khamenei taunted Trump in response, posting on X: “The US President stated, “Iran must surrender.” Needless to say, this statement is too big to come out of the US president’s mouth.”
Following the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump was able to secure a ceasefire that came into effect on Tuesday, after a few last minute missile exchanges between Iran and Israel.
The Supreme Leader also delivered a short speech filled with similar false bravado and warnings toward the United States and Israel that broadcast on Iranian state television.
The octogenarian “looked and sounded more tired than he did only a week ago, speaking in a hoarse voice and occasionally stumbling over his words,” according to the Associated Press.
Khamenei, possible encouraged by the bogus reporting of CNN and MSNBC, claimed the U.S. strikes “could not achieve anything significant.”
The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi, said Thursday that the damage done by Israeli and U.S. strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities “is very, very, very considerable.”
C.I.A. director, John Ratcliffe, also said the strikes had “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear program, the New York Times reported.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, on Wednesday acknowledged that “our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure.”
Khamenei claimed that Iran’s attack on the U.S. base in Qatar on Monday was significant, since it shows Iran “has access to important U.S. centers in the region and can act against them whenever it deems necessary.”
“The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America’s face,” he said, adding “this action can be repeated in the future.”
“Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price,” he said.