Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly stated that the recent American military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities resulted in no significant advantages for the United States. Khamenei described the US claims of a successful operation as exaggerated, asserting that the strikes failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program meaningfully.
In light of a ceasefire agreement reached with Israel, Khamenei asserted during his televised address that the retaliation against an American air base in Qatar dealt a "heavy blow." The strikes were a response to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, as well as Iran’s confrontations with Israel, which had intensified following statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iran's potential nuclear capabilities.
While US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the strikes as a "historic success," intelligence reports suggested severe damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. Khamenei dismissed these claims, emphasizing that “They couldn't accomplish anything and did not achieve their objective.” He went on to threaten further attacks on US bases in the Middle East should another assault on Iran occur.
Speculation had arisen regarding Khamenei's whereabouts during the heightened conflict, as he had remained out of public view since the direct confrontations began. He addressed the nation from an undisclosed location, asserting that Iran's nuclear ambitions were solely for civilian purposes.
In the aftermath of the strikes, Iran's parliament advanced a bill that would sever cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, raising concerns about transparency surrounding its nuclear program. Statistics released by Iran’s health ministry indicated that over 600 people perished in the recent barrage of airstrikes, while Israeli sources reported 28 casualties.
Despite ongoing military actions and strained diplomatic relations, President Trump sought to mediate a ceasefire, although initial tensions remained high following attacking exchanges. As reported by UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi, there are possibilities that Iran may have relocated its enriched uranium in advance of the attacks, complicating the narrative surrounding their nuclear undertakings further.
