DUBAI, June 26 — In a significant development regarding U.S.-Iran relations, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the nation would respond decisively to any future U.S. military action. Speaking for the first time since a ceasefire was reached between Iran and Israel, Khamenei emphasized that Iranian forces would target American military bases in the Middle East.
Khamenei, 86, proclaimed a sense of victory following a 12-day conflict, which culminated in Iran's attack on the largest U.S. base in the region, situated in Qatar. This offensive was a direct response to U.S. involvement in supporting Israeli strikes. "The Islamic Republic slapped America in the face," Khamenei asserted during his televised address, which took place from an undisclosed location adorned with a brown curtain, an Iranian flag, and a portrait of his predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini.
During the pre-recorded remarks aired on state television, Khamenei vowed that Iran would never surrender, countering remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump. "The U.S. President unveiled the truth, making it clear that Americans won’t be satisfied with anything less than surrender... such an event will never happen," he declared. Khamenei boasted that the Islamic Republic has the ability to target significant U.S. military centers in the region whenever it sees fit, describing this capability as a "major incident." He warned that such actions could be repeated if another attack occurs.
Trump, during a recent press conference, confirmed that the U.S. would strike again if Iran were to resume its nuclear enrichment program. The Iranian government has long denied Western allegations of pursuing nuclear arms. Khamenei dismissed the notion that the U.S. achieved any significant gain from its military actions against Iranian nuclear sites, asserting that the U.S. entered the conflict primarily to protect Israel after Iranian missiles compromised Israel's multi-layered defense systems.
"The U.S. directly entered the war because it feared that without intervention, the Zionist regime (Israel) would be fully destroyed," Khamenei stated. He criticized the U.S. for its attacks on Iranian facilities, claiming that they failed to accomplish any substantial objectives. "The U.S. president displayed abnormal showmanship and needed to do so," he added, referring to Trump's previous claims about the effectiveness of U.S. military operations.
In a contrasting narrative, Trump claimed that the U.S. deployment of 30,000-pound bombs had effectively obliterated Iran's nuclear program. However, this assertion appears to be contradicted by initial assessments from intelligence agencies within his administration, as reported by sources familiar with the matter.
Following Khamenei's speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed a historic victory, stating that Israel had succeeded in its objective of eliminating threats posed by Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Shortly thereafter, Netanyahu shared a message alongside an image of himself and Trump, emphasizing their united front against common adversaries.
With tensions escalating in the region, the implications of Khamenei's statements and the ongoing U.S.-Iran dynamics remain a critical focus for international observers and policymakers alike.
