In his first speech since a ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel, Ayatollah Khamenei has congratulated the Iranians on Thursday celebrated his country’s ‘harsh blow’ to US.
Speaking from an undisclosed location in his first comments since after the United States targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities in a 30-hour bombing campaign, , Khamenei congratulated Iran for “its victory over the American regime.”
The 86-year-old Khamenei leader has not appeared in public since Israel took out most of his military’s top brass and some of the country’s most prominent nuclear scientists in an unprecedented attack that deeply infiltrated the Islamic Republic.
Saturday’s operation, named “Operation Midnight Hammer,” marked the U.S. military’s largest-ever deployment of B-2 stealth bombers and first use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs in combat, Pentagon officials said. The 30-hour precision strike targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities, making it the longest B-2 mission since 2001, according to officials.
“The Islamic Republic also triumphed here and delivered a harsh blow to America. My second congratulations go to our dear Iran for its victory over the American regime. The US entered direct war because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. Yet, it gained nothing from this war. Here too, the Islamic Republic emerged victorious and delivered a harsh slap to America’s face.”
“A nation of around 90 million stood united, with one voice, shoulder to shoulder, supporting the armed forces. The Iranian people demonstrated their exceptional character and showed that, when needed, a single voice will rise from this nation,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei who is a disciple of the 1979 Islamic Revolution said the war against his country was not about nuclear programme but regime change.
“This is not about our nuclear programme. This is about Iran surrendering … In his statement, (Trump) revealed the truth, he showed his hand. The Americans have had a fundamental issue with Islamic Iran since our revolution. And it will never happen,” Khamenei said.
The supreme leader avoided key issues including the damage incurred by Iran’s nuclear sites and future talks. He accused the US president of exaggerating the extent of damage — but gave no clear details beyond that.
Khamenei also did not say whether his country will partake in talks with the US next week.
He attempted to seize on a rare, and possibly brief, moment of national unity among an Iranian population that has spent decades divided over the regime’s policies but appeared to coalesce against Israel’s attacks.
With agency reports
