Khamenei warns US of heavy reprisals after Iran’s ceasefire

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has broken his silence after a week-long absence, delivering his first public statement since the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities, as reported by CNN. The 86-year-old leader appeared in a pre-recorded video message where he declared victory over both Israel and the United States, despite the significant damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear program.

Khamenei had been notably absent from public view since taking shelter in a secret location when the conflict began on Friday, June 13. His silence had raised serious questions among Iranians about his health and whereabouts, with officials previously stating he was avoiding electronic communications to prevent assassination attempts. 

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In the video, Khamenei appeared seated in front of a brown curtain with an Iranian flag beside him, speaking in what observers described as a raspy and frail voice. CNN's analysis reveals that the setting was identical to his last video release from Wednesday, June 18, though the exact recording date remains unclear. The supreme leader claimed that Iran's retaliatory missile strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar caused damage and warned that Tehran could take similar action again if necessary.

The New York Times provides additional context about Khamenei's defiant tone during his comeback appearance, noting how he congratulated Iranians for what he termed a victory over Israel and America. His video message marked his first public statement since the American military attack on Sunday, following Iran's 12-day conflict with Israel that ended in a ceasefire. The supreme leader, who has the final authority on key national decisions, had remained conspicuously silent even after Iran fired retaliatory missiles and agreed to the ceasefire without his public input.

According to the Times' reporting, Khamenei argued that the United States only joined the conflict because Israel would have been completely destroyed otherwise. He emphasized that despite American intervention, the US gained nothing from the war. The leader's reappearance comes at a crucial time when questions about Iran's nuclear capabilities and future diplomatic relations with America remain unresolved. His video statement notably avoided discussing the actual status of Iran's nuclear facilities and centrifuges following the extensive strikes by both American and Israeli forces.

Yahoo News highlights Khamenei's warning against future US attacks, describing how he characterized Iran's strike on the Qatar airbase as delivering a slap to America's face. The supreme leader downplayed the impact of Sunday's US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, claiming that President Trump had exaggerated their effectiveness when he said they completely obliterated Iran'snuclear program. 

Khamenei insisted that the attacks could not achieve anything significant, though he conspicuously avoided mentioning the nuclear program's current status. His characterization of Monday's retaliatory strike contrasted sharply with US accounts that described it as limited with no casualties.

The Yahoo report emphasizes how Khamenei warned that such actions could be repeated, stating that Iran has access to important US centers in the region and can act against them whenever necessary. Meanwhile, the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that damage to Iranian nuclear facilities was very considerable, with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency describing it as enormous, though stopping short of calling it complete annihilation. As life gradually returns to normal in Iran with the reopening of airspace and resumption of daily activities, the path forward remains uncertain despite Trump's assertion that American and Iranian officials will meet next week for potential talks.