Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his first public remarks since a ceasefire halted 12 days of conflict between Iran and Israel. He used the opportunity to emphasise that Iran will “never surrender” to the United States. Speaking in a pre-recorded address aired on state television, the 86-year-old leader asserted that despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands, Iran would not yield.
“The U.S. President Trump unveiled the truth and made it clear that Americans won’t be satisfied with anything less than surrender of Iran … such an event will never happen,” Khamenei said.
He further warned that Iran’s ability to strike U.S. military centres in the region was a significant development that could be repeated. “The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to important American centres in the region and can take action against them whenever it deems necessary is not a small incident, it is a major incident, and this incident can be repeated in the future if an attack is made,” he added.
Assessment of the Conflict and U.S. Strikes
Khamenei declared that Iran emerged victorious following the 12-day conflict. It culminated in an Iranian missile attack targeting the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, located in Qatar. The attack, he said, was a “severe slap to the face of America,” despite causing no casualties.
He disputed U.S. claims about the impact of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, labeling President Trump’s statements as “exaggerated.” According to Khamenei, the U.S. “gained no achievement” from its military actions on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“The U.S. attacked our nuclear facilities, but couldn’t do any important deed… The U.S. president did abnormal showmanship and needed to do so,” he stated.
Continued Nuclear Program and Military Preparedness
Contradicting U.S. assertions of “obliterated” nuclear sites, Khamenei maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme remains largely intact. “Most of the sites are still in place and Iran is going to continue its nuclear programme,” he said.
Khamenei also congratulated Iran’s armed forces for their role during the conflict. According to reports from Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar in Tehran, Khamenei aimed to counter domestic and international perceptions that Iran’s military had suffered significant damage from Israeli attacks.
“The Iranian army successfully targeted military and non-military positions and caused extensive damage in Israel,” Khamenei added. “If Israel attacks us again, they will see a further destruction.”
Public Sentiment and Regional Implications
Despite the ceasefire, uncertainty remains among the Iranian public. Many residents who fled Tehran during the conflict have begun returning, but anxiety persists. “There is a common anxiety among the Iranian people here as well because they believe this was only the first wave of the war,” Serdar said. Concerns include questions about the effectiveness of Iran’s air defence and vulnerability to potential future strikes by the U.S. or Israel.
The 12-day war resulted in significant casualties, with Tehran’s health ministry reporting at least 627 Iranian civilian deaths due to Israeli strikes, and Israel’s official figures indicating 28 fatalities caused by Iranian attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “historic victory” following the ceasefire, praising the campaign to remove Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile threat. Shortly after Khamenei’s speech, Netanyahu shared a photo of himself with President Trump and stated: “We will continue to work together to defeat our common enemies.”
Outlook on Future Conflict
Khamenei warned that any future U.S. attack would prompt retaliation against American military bases in the Middle East, underscoring Iran’s continued strategic posture in the region. Trump has indicated the possibility of further strikes if Iran resumes its nuclear enrichment programme.
“The Islamic Republic slapped America in the face. It attacked one of the important American bases in the region,” Khamenei said.
