Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei hails “collapse” of Zionist regime, threatens future action against US bases
In a provocative address following the recently announced Israel-Iran ceasefire, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the Islamic Republic had “crushed” Israel and successfully resisted American intervention.
The comments came just days after US President Donald Trump brokered the ceasefire agreement between the two long-time adversaries. Speaking in a televised message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Khamenei said:
“With all that clamor, with all those claims, the Zionist regime, under the blows of the Islamic Republic, has almost collapsed and been crushed.”
“Victory over the US regime”
Doubling down on his combative tone, the supreme leader congratulated the Iranian people for what he called a dual victory over both Israel and the United States.
“My congratulations on our dear Iran’s victory over the US regime,” Khamenei posted.
He criticized the US for entering the conflict in a bid to prevent Israel’s total defeat, asserting that Washington’s intervention achieved little.
“The US regime entered the war directly because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. It entered the war in an effort to save that regime but achieved nothing.”
Strike on a US military base
In his address, Khamenei also claimed responsibility for an Iranian strike on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar—one of the largest US military installations in the Middle East. He referred to the assault as a “heavy slap” to the US’s face and issued a veiled threat of repeated action if provoked again.
“The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter. Such an action can be repeated in the future too.”
“Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price,” he warned.
Fallout and regional impact
The ceasefire, while tentatively holding, has raised fresh questions about the future of Middle Eastern stability. Khamenei’s aggressive rhetoric is likely to escalate tensions between Tehran and Washington, particularly as the Biden-Trump transition looms amid already fragile diplomacy.
Iran’s declaration of victory over both Israel and the United States also threatens to galvanize hardliners within the country while deepening geopolitical fault lines across the region.
