In a televised address on Thursday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Iran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by launching an attack on a U.S. air base in Qatar, warning against further hostilities. This marked his first public appearance since a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The pre-recorded message by the 86-year-old leader, who is known for addressing Iran’s vast population, was tinged with caution towards both the United States and Israel. However, his delivery seemed labored compared to previous speeches, indicating possible fatigue.
Khamenei played down American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites that utilized advanced weaponry, dismissing President Donald Trump’s claims that the strikes had completely dismantled Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He noted, “They could not achieve anything significant.” The video message, which ran for over ten minutes, did not address recent damages to Iranian nuclear sites caused by U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Contrary to Khamenei’s strong words, the U.S. described the Iranian strike on the base in Qatar as a limited incident that resulted in no casualties. The White House accused Khamenei of attempting to maintain pride, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the strikes on Iranian facilities were “wildly successful.”
Rafael Grossi, the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed substantial damage to Iran’s nuclear sites from the latest strikes, suggesting that their centrifuges might be inoperative. However, Iran has not allowed the IAEA to inspect the facilities independently to assess the aftermath.
Iran acknowledged on Wednesday that their nuclear installations endured significant damage. Khamenei had remained out of sight since the conflict sparked on June 13 when Israel targeted Iranian nuclear and military figures, prior to the recent ceasefire brokered by Trump.
Khamenei claimed the U.S. intervened only to prevent Israel’s overwhelming defeat in the conflict. He asserted that Iran’s Monday attack on the U.S. airbase in Qatar demonstrated its capability to target significant U.S. interests in the region.
The Iranian leader warned, “This action can repeat in the future” and emphasized any hostile act would inflict “a heavy price” on the enemy. Trump, meanwhile, downplayed the Iranian response as ineffectual, stressing that the U.S. received prior warnings from Iran.
Following the ceasefire, normalcy began returning to Iran. Airspace restrictions were partially lifted, allowing domestic and international flights while daily life resumed in Tehran with businesses reopening.
Recent reports indicated heavy casualties with over 600 fatalities within Iran during the conflict, while rights groups claimed higher figures due to continued Israeli attacks. Conversely, Israeli official reports noted a smaller number of casualties over the 12-day period, during which Iran launched numerous missiles against Israel’s defense systems.
There is hope for peace talks between American and Iranian officials next week. However, Iran has remained reserved, with their parliament recently moving forward with a proposal to cease cooperation with the IAEA.