Khamenei, making his first appearance in over a week after going into hiding amid a punishing Israeli air campaign that killed many of his top generals, also hailed his country’s “victory” in the 12-day air war launched by Israel, which he claimed had “almost collapsed” because of Iran’s strikes.
The statement and a televised speech carried by state media came two days after a ceasefire ended the war between Iran and Israel, as analysts attempted to work out the extent to which Iran’s nuclear program had been set back. “The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,” Khamenei said, looking more tired than he did a week ago. The United States “has gained nothing from this war,” he added, claiming that American strikes “did nothing significant” to Iran’s nuclear facilities. (Read More)
