Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared on Thursday that his country had delivered “a slap in the face to the United States,” warning that any further attacks by Washington would come at a high price. It was his first public statement since a ceasefire was reached with Israel.
In a message broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei appeared visibly more fatigued than in previous appearances. He had not been seen since June 19, marking his first appearance after going into hiding following the outbreak of hostilities on June 13, when Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military and scientific figures.
During his speech, the Iranian leader claimed the U.S. only got involved in the conflict because it feared that “the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed” if it didn’t intervene. According to Khamenei, the United States “has gained nothing” from the war.
“The Islamic Republic emerged victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a slap in the face to the United States,” he said, referring to Monday’s Iranian missile strike on a U.S. base in Qatar. The attack caused no casualties but was widely seen as a clear warning.
Khamenei emphasized that such actions “could be repeated in the future” and stated that Iran has the capability to strike “key U.S. centers in the region” if it deems necessary. “If any aggression occurs, the enemy will undoubtedly pay a high price,” he warned.
Following the massive U.S. airstrike on June 22—which targeted Iranian nuclear sites with bunker-busting bombs— President Donald Trump stepped in to help broker a ceasefire, which came into effect on Tuesday.
In Thursday’s video, Khamenei was seated in front of plain brown curtains, in a setting identical to his June 19 message—offering a sense of continuity, but also revealing visible physical fatigue.
