Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei resurfaced Thursday to deliver a defiant message following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended 12 days of warfare between Iran and Israel. In a televised address, his first since going into hiding during the conflict, Khamenei claimed victory, warned the United States of future attacks, and declared that Tehran had "delivered a heavy slap to the U.S.'s face."
Speaking from an undisclosed location, Khamenei said, "The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America's face." He cited Iran's missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar earlier this week, which caused no casualties, as a warning. "Such an action can be repeated in the future, too," he added. "Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price."
Khamenei, 86, had not been seen in public since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and key military personnel. Israeli and American forces coordinated strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan-sites Tehran had used to enrich uranium beyond civilian energy levels.
"Operation Rising Lion" and accompanying U.S. attacks using bunker-buster bombs were described by the Israel Atomic Energy Commission as having "rendered the enrichment facility inoperable." A statement from the Israeli government asserted, "We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities... have set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years."
In contrast, Iran's response consisted of missile and drone attacks that were largely intercepted by Israeli defenses. However, several reached urban areas, resulting in civilian casualties. Despite the asymmetry, Khamenei insisted, "The Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic."
President Donald Trump, who negotiated the ceasefire that took effect Tuesday, said U.S. and Iranian officials are scheduled to begin renewed talks on Tehran's nuclear program. "We're going to talk to them next week, with Iran," Trump said at the NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday. "We may sign an agreement. I don't know."
Trump emphasized that Iran's nuclear infrastructure must not be rebuilt and warned that he would act again militarily if necessary.
Tehran pushed back against international monitoring in response to the attacks. On Thursday, Iran's Guardian Council endorsed a parliamentary measure suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attacks would have "serious and profound effects on the course of the nuclear program," and that Iran must "rethink how we protect our nuclear facilities."
Khamenei's appearance was accompanied by a message posted to his official English-language X account: "I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime." He also accused the U.S. of intervening only "because it felt that if it didn't, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed."
Israel's military and intelligence officials continued assessing the damage. The Israel Defense Forces said Iranian enrichment capabilities had been significantly degraded, a view echoed by both U.S. and Israeli officials. However, a leaked intelligence report cast doubt on claims of a total obliteration of the Fordow facility, which the White House dismissed as inaccurate.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei acknowledged damage, telling Al Jazeera, "Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure."
