Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei claims victory over Israel, warns the US
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first reaction after the ceasefire this week, congratulated his people on what he called a “victory” over Israel, and a “heavy slap” to the USA during the recent conflict, according to a post from his official account on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
Without naming Israel directly, he referred to it as a “fallacious Zionist regime.” “With all that commotion and all those claims, the Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic,” he said, the media reported him as saying.
It was also a “heavy slap to the US,” the Ayatollah said, while warning of repeat strikes.
The post came shortly before Khamenei was expected to deliver a video address, his first public remarks since the United States brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel earlier this week.
“I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime.— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 26, 2025
Shortly afterwards, another post escalated the rhetoric, this time targeting Washington as well: “My congratulations on our dear Iran’s victory over the US regime. The US regime entered the war directly because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. It entered the war in an effort to save that regime but achieved nothing.”
Khamenei also referenced Iran’s retaliatory strike on the US forces stationed in the Gulf, claiming it dealt a direct blow to American military infrastructure. “The Islamic Republic delivered a heavy slap to the US’s face,” he said. “It attacked and inflicted damage on the Al-Udeid Air Base, which is one of the key US bases in the region.”
In another pointed remark, Khamenei warned that Iran retains the capability to strike US assets in the region at will. “The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter,” read a post from his official account. “Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price.”
“The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter. Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price.— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 26, 2025″
