Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has downplayed the impact of recent US-led strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming Washington “gained no achievements” from the operation. The remarks, delivered in a televised address Thursday morning, mark Khamenei’s first public appearance since a ceasefire agreement with Israel was announced earlier this week.
“The strikes did not accomplish anything significant,” Khamenei said, insisting Iran’s nuclear programme remained intact. He also lauded Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on a US air base in Qatar, describing it as a “heavy blow” and a warning for future aggression. “This incident is repeatable,” he warned. “Any further attack will come at a high cost.”
His comments come in stark contrast to US assessments. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Pentagon on Thursday alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, described the mission as a “historic success” that had “rendered [Iranian] enrichment facilities inoperable”. He said US and Israeli intelligence showed the operation had “set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years.”
Hegseth dismissed suggestions that Iran had moved enriched uranium out of the Fordo facility — one of the key targets — before the strike. “We are not aware of any such intelligence,” he said. The Pentagon also released video of the bunker buster bombs used in the attack.
Meanwhile, Khamenei’s rare appearance follows speculation about his whereabouts, with Iranian officials confirming earlier this week that he had been in a secure location.
While Washington considers options to re-engage Tehran diplomatically — possibly by supporting a civilian nuclear programme — Iran’s foreign ministry insists no talks with the US are currently planned.
Tensions between Iran, Israel and the US escalated sharply after a direct confrontation erupted on 13 June, marking one of the most volatile chapters in the region’s recent history.
