Israel-Iran ceasefire: Ayatollah Khamenei says Iran ‘delivered a hard slap’ to US; plays down US strike impact on nuclear sites

In his first public remarks since the ceasefire that ended the 12-day conflict involving Iran, Israel, and direct US involvement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched a sharp attack on Washington.

He declared that Iran “delivered a hard slap to America’s” and accused US President Donald Trump of engaging in “showmanship.”In a televised video message and an official statement published by state media, Khamenei said the United States had directly engaged in the conflict, particularly through strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, but ultimately failed to achieve any strategic objective.“It has gained nothing from this war,” Khamenei said, claiming that the US had believed its intervention would prevent the collapse of the Israeli state but underestimated Iran’s resilience.“The Islamic Republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America,” he said.Khamenei further stated that “Trump needed to do showmanship,” dismissing the US leader’s aggressive rhetoric and symbolic actions as political theatrics. The Supreme Leader added that any future aggression against Iran would “come at a great cost.”The remarks came just days after a ceasefire agreement paused fighting that had seen Israeli and US strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, including sensitive nuclear facilities.Iran maintained that the damage inflicted was limited and that its retaliatory operations demonstrated its strategic and military capabilities.Khamenei used the moment to position Iran’s response as a broader victory, stating, “I want to congratulate the great Iranian nation… for its victory over the fallacious Zionist regime.”He reiterated Tehran’s stance that the West uses issues like Iran’s missile programme and nuclear capabilities as excuses to exert pressure and demand surrender.“Iran’s enemies use excuses like missiles or the nuclear programme, but are actually looking for our surrender,” he said.