Iran's Supreme Leader claims victory over Israel and US in first statement
Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Getty Images)
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has issued his first public statement since the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war. He congratulated the Iranian people on what he called a victory over both Israel and the United States, and declared that the Zionist regime "was practically knocked out", according to Khamenei's X.
"I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime. My congratulations on our dear Iran’s victory over the US regime. The US regime entered the war directly...but achieved nothing," Ali Khamenei's post declared.
Khamenei also claimed that the United States achieved nothing because it failed to strike Tehran's nuclear facilities. At the same time, he asserted that Iran had "delivered a heavy slap to the US's face."
"Islamic Republic ... attacked and inflicted damage on the Al-Udeid Air Base. The Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic," Iran's Supreme Leader stated.
Strikes on Iran
Since June 13, Israel has inflicted significant damage on Iran's nuclear and missile programs through a series of strikes. Beginning on June 22, the United States briefly joined the attacks, bombing three nuclear facilities. US President Donald Trump compared the strikes to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Following the US attacks, Tehran retaliated by striking the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar - the largest American military base in the Middle East. However, the attack appeared to be largely symbolic, causing no casualties. Trump thanked Iran for the timely warning and announced the implementation of a ceasefire.
