Tehran (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public comments since the ceasefire with Israel, praising Iran for its “victory over the fallacious Zionist regime.”
Two weeks ago, Israel launched air strikes on Iran, prompting Iran to respond with missiles. A ceasefire was eventually agreed upon, and Donald Trump later referred to it as a “12-day war.”
What did Khamenei say about Iran’s claimed victory?
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated his nation on Thursday on its “victory” over Israel following the ceasefire the two countries reached after about twelve days of armed conflict.
“I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime,”
Khamenei said on X. In a televised address that started shortly afterward, the imam expressed that “the Zionist regime, with all its noise and claims, was nearly defeated and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic.”
What does Iran claim about the US’s failed efforts?
Furthermore, Khamenei argued that the United States wouldn’t have targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities if it didn’t think Israel would come out on top in a conflict. He also claimed that the US had nothing to gain from the war.
In one more post on X, he said: “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.”
What role did national unity play in Iran’s narrative?
As reported, Ayatollah Khamenei has also posted another message on his Telegram handle in Farsi.
“A third congratulation, congratulations on the unity of the Iranian nation,”
He notes.
“A nation of around 90 million stood united, with one voice, shoulder to shoulder, in support of the armed forces. The Iranian nation demonstrated its distinguished character and showed that, when necessary, a single voice will be heard from this nation.”
How does Iran justify continued resistance against Israel?
Moreover, throughout the conflict, Khamenei reiterated that Israel “must be punished and is currently facing punishment,” emphasizing Iran’s stance of resistance and retaliation against Israeli actions. Khamenei vowed that Iran “won’t surrender” and would not accept being targeted by anyone under any circumstances, stating, “We will not surrender to any aggression. This is the logic behind the Iranian nation”.
During the conflict, Khamenei remained in hiding in a secure location due to Israeli bombings of Tehran, maintaining communication with military commanders through trusted aides and preparing for worst-case scenarios.
