Khamenei addresses nation after 'victory' against Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared what he described as a "victory" over Israel following a 12-day military confrontation, hailing it as a testament to national unity and the enduring strength of the Islamic Republic.

In a nationally televised address on Thursday (June 26), Khamenei claimed that Iran had delivered a significant blow to Israel, asserting that the conflict had brought the Israeli state to the brink of collapse and prompted direct involvement by the United States.

"This victory is the fruit of the Islamic Revolution and the unity of the Iranian nation," Khamenei said. "Israel never imagined it would suffer such a blow. We bypassed their defence systems and struck at the heart of their territory."

There has been no independent verification of the extent of damage inflicted on Israel. The Israeli government has not publicly commented on Khamenei’s remarks.

Khamenei also accused the United States of intervening in the conflict out of fear that Iran’s actions would lead to the collapse of what he called the "fake Zionist government."

"The Americans knew that the fall of the Zionist regime was imminent if they did not act," he said. "But even their involvement did not bring them any gains. We dealt them a final blow."

The Iranian leader did not provide detailed evidence to support his claims, and analysts have urged caution in interpreting such statements amid heightened regional tensions and the lack of transparent information.

National Unity and Nuclear Programme

Khamenei praised what he described as the “unshakable” support of the Iranian people, claiming that all 90 million citizens stood behind the armed forces during the conflict.

He also rejected claims made by former US President Donald Trump, who had earlier suggested that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been seriously damaged in the confrontation.

"Our nuclear programme remains intact," Khamenei insisted. "Trump's claims are baseless. Furthermore, attempts to hide Iran's retaliatory strike on the Al-Udeid base in Qatar were unsuccessful."

Broader Context

The recent flare-up marks one of the most serious escalations in Iranian-Israeli hostilities in recent years, with both nations trading military and cyber operations amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and Israel’s regional alliances.

While Tehran has often supported proxy groups across the region in their confrontations with Israel, direct military engagement remains relatively rare. Any formal acknowledgment of such a conflict would likely have significant implications for regional stability.

In the closing remarks of his address, Khamenei struck a defiant tone: "The Iranian nation has never surrendered, and it never will. Our history, our culture, and our faith are our strength. This nation was, is, and will remain victorious. We are grateful to God."