TEHRAN, Iran (BN24) — Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei resurfaced Thursday with a stern warning to the United States against any future aggression, declaring that Iran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by launching a retaliatory missile strike on a U.S. airbase in Qatar, days after a ceasefire ended a 12-day war with Israel.
In his first public statement since June 19, Khamenei appeared in a prerecorded address aired on state television, breaking his silence following the intense Israeli and U.S. bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear sites. The 86-year-old leader, sounding fatigued and occasionally stumbling over his words, did not directly address the condition of Iran’s nuclear program or its damaged facilities.
“America intervened to save the Zionist regime from collapse and gained nothing,” Khamenei said, referring to Israel. “In response, the Islamic Republic struck back and delivered a powerful slap to America’s face. This action can be repeated.”
The U.S. confirmed that Iran launched a missile barrage on a base in Qatar earlier in the week, though officials said the attack caused no casualties and had been telegraphed in advance. President Donald Trump, who has described the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as “obliterating,” dismissed Tehran’s retaliation as a “very weak response.”
In Washington, the White House responded to Khamenei’s comments, accusing him of posturing. “Any commonsense, open-minded person knows the truth about the precision strikes on Saturday night,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. “They were wildly successful.”
Damage to Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure Confirmed
Despite Khamenei’s attempts to downplay the severity of the joint U.S.-Israeli assault, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was “very, very, very considerable,” though he stopped short of calling it “annihilated.” Grossi reiterated that IAEA inspectors have not yet been allowed access to assess the damage firsthand.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also acknowledged this week that key nuclear installations were “badly damaged.”
Tehran remains defiant, however. In a symbolic move, the Iranian parliament on Wednesday voted to expedite legislation that would cut cooperation with the IAEA—a move likely to further strain already fragile relations with Western powers.
Ceasefire Brings Tense Calm
Thursday also saw partial restoration of normalcy in Iran, with domestic and international flights allowed through the country’s eastern airspace and shops reopening in Tehran. The Ministry of Roads and Urban Development confirmed airspace had been reopened after being closed during the height of the conflict.
According to Iranian authorities, 606 people were killed and over 5,300 injured during the hostilities. The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group said Israeli strikes were responsible for at least 1,054 deaths, including 417 civilians and 318 members of Iranian security forces.
In Israel, officials reported 28 dead and more than 1,000 wounded. Iranian missile barrages numbered more than 550, with Israel claiming a 90% interception rate. Israel said it struck over 720 Iranian military targets and eight nuclear facilities.
Future Talks in Question
While President Trump indicated this week that American and Iranian officials are expected to meet for nuclear talks as soon as next week, Iran has not confirmed its participation. U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff has said there is ongoing direct and indirect communication between the two sides, though a sixth round of negotiations scheduled earlier this month in Oman was canceled after Israel’s first strike on Iran.
Khamenei, in his address, made no mention of potential negotiations and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to its nuclear program, a stance that analysts say is likely to remain a core sticking point in any future diplomacy.
“This conflict has demonstrated that Iran is capable of hitting important U.S. centers in the region and can act decisively whenever it deems necessary,” Khamenei warned. “If any aggression occurs again, the enemy will pay a heavy price.”
