Tehran – After weeks of public absence amid intensifying regional tensions, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reemerged Thursday via a pre-recorded televised address. His reappearance comes at a time when speculation about his health and safety had reached a fever pitch following Iran’s involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Though the broadcast does not disclose the location or exact timing of the recording, Khamenei is seen seated between the Iranian flag and a portrait of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, speaking against a dark backdrop.
Amid the peak of the Iran–Israel war, Khamenei reportedly took shelter in a heavily guarded bunker due to heightened security threats. Even after a ceasefire was declared, his prolonged absence triggered growing concern from both Iranian officials and the public.
International media reported widespread rumors within Iran suggesting that Khamenei might have been seriously injured—or even killed—in an attack. Although he has not yet made a live public appearance, the televised address offered a sense of reassurance to many Iranians.
Khamenei Declares Victory and Issues Warning to the U.S.
During his speech, Khamenei declared Iran’s victory in the recent military conflict with Israel, claiming the turning point came after successful Iranian strikes on two key U.S. military bases in the Middle East.
“We delivered a strong blow to the Americans by targeting their primary bases in the region,” Khamenei stated, asserting that these operations shifted the momentum of the war in Iran’s favor.
he also criticized the American President Donald Trump, Iran promised to never bow to American pressure. “Trump’s remarks make it clear that the United States won’t be satisfied until Iran surrenders—something that will never happen,” Khamenei said.
Downplaying U.S. Strikes and Emphasizing Iranian Strength
Addressing recent U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Khamenei downplayed the damage, saying that Washington failed to achieve any significant results. According to him, the U.S. used its most powerful bunker-busting bomb, the GBU-57, in airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Khamenei claimed that while the U.S. dropped 12 GBU-57 bombs on the deeply buried Fordow site, the strikes did not cause substantial destruction. He cited leaked preliminary intelligence assessments from U.S. agencies suggesting only minimal damage to the facility—contradicting President Trump’s public claims that the sites were completely destroyed.
“America attacked our nuclear centers but achieved no major success. Trump needed to show strength for appearances, but the actual results were limited,” Khamenei said.
He issued a clear warning that if the U.S. were to launch
further military strikes, Iran would have no hesitation in responding. “Our missile range covers key American positions in the Middle East. If they strike again, this could happen once more,” he cautioned.
Khamenei also addressed the broader dynamics of the recent conflict with Israel, asserting that without direct American intervention, Israel would have suffered complete collapse.
“Once Iranian missiles began bypassing Israeli defense systems, the U.S. was forced to intervene militarily to protect Israel. Had they not stepped in, Israel would have been destroyed,” he declared.
Just hours after Khamenei’s speech aired, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a photo on social media alongside Donald Trump, captioned: “We will continue working together to defeat our common enemies.”
Khamenei’s appearance—though through a recorded message—has offered a measure of relief to Iranians, many of whom had grown increasingly anxious amid his silence. However, the region remains on edge, with the next phase of this ongoing geopolitical standoff now the focus of intense international scrutiny.
