Thu Jun 26 13:14:36 UTC 2025: **News Article: Khamenei Downplays US Strikes, Declares Victory After Ceasefire with Israel**

**Tehran, Iran** – In his first public remarks since a ceasefire halted the 12-day war with Israel, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory and dismissed the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking from Tehran, Khamenei, 86, stated that Iran will “never surrender” to the United States and claimed that the recent conflict served to expose American demands for Iran’s complete capitulation.

Khamenei downplayed claims by US President Donald Trump that US strikes had “obliterated” Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. “The US President [Donald] Trump unveiled the truth and made it clear that Americans won’t be satisfied with anything less than surrender of Iran … such an event will never happen,” Khamenei said. He asserted the strikes “did nothing significant” and that Iran’s nuclear program remains largely intact, vowing its continuation.

The Supreme Leader’s comments come amidst conflicting reports about the damage inflicted during the conflict. While both Iran and Israel have claimed victory, the war, marked by an Iranian missile attack on a US military base in Qatar and retaliatory US and Israeli strikes, has left both nations reeling.

Khamenei praised the Iranian armed forces, countering claims of significant losses inflicted by Israeli attacks. He asserted the army had successfully targeted both military and civilian sites in Israel, causing “extensive damage” and warning of further destruction should Israel attack again.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, noted that while residents who fled the capital are gradually returning, “there is a common anxiety among the Iranian people here as well because they believe this was only the first wave of the war.” Concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of Iran’s air defense systems and vulnerability to future attacks.

According to the Tehran health ministry, Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 627 Iranian civilians, while official figures report 28 deaths in Israel due to Iranian attacks. A state funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Tehran for top military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the conflict.

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