Iran’s Khamenei boasts of ‘victory’ over America and Israel in first public statement since ceasefire

Published June 26, 2025 8:27am ET



Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory over the United States and Israel Thursday in his first public statement since a Monday ceasefire ended the “12 Day War.”

Khamenei had been absent from the public for nearly a week before his Thursday statement, raising alarms that he’d either been killed or overthrown in a coup. He delivered his first video address, broadcast to Iran, since June 19. In the message, he declared victory over the U.S. and Israel and suggested they achieved nothing in the conflict.

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