Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as a failure, saying they did not achieve any significant objectives. In his first public address since a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was announced on Tuesday, Khamenei declared that Washington “gained no achievements” and vowed to retaliate if Iran is attacked again.
Khamenei, who had remained out of the public eye for a week amid speculation about his whereabouts, delivered a televised speech on Thursday. He insisted Iran’s nuclear programme remains intact despite what he called exaggerated claims by U.S. President Donald Trump. “They couldn’t accomplish anything and did not achieve their objective,” he said.
The U.S. maintains that its strikes on three key nuclear sites Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities by years. Speaking from the Pentagon, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was a “historic success,” claiming the facilities were rendered inoperable. He dismissed suggestions that enriched uranium had been moved before the attacks, asserting the strikes dealt a “significant blow.”
However, Khamenei countered by highlighting Iran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. airbase in Qatar, which he described as a “heavy blow” and a signal of Iran’s military readiness. Although no casualties or significant damage were reported, Khamenei warned that similar strikes “are repeatable” should hostilities resume.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high as Iran’s parliament passed a bill to end cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), barring inspectors from accessing nuclear sites. The move follows a recent IAEA report accusing Tehran of breaching its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in two decades.
The conflict erupted on June 13 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of Iran’s imminent nuclear threat. The ensuing 12-day air campaign killed over 600 people in Iran and 28 in Israel. While a U.S.-brokered ceasefire has halted direct attacks, the situation remains fragile.
UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi acknowledged the possibility that Iran relocated enriched uranium during the strikes, casting further uncertainty on the long-term impact of the U.S. operation.
