Image Source: Agencies

June 26, 2025: In his first public statement since a ceasefire was declared in the war between the two countries on June 26, 2025, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel. Mr. Khamenei hasn't been seen in public since taking shelter in a secret location after the outbreak of the war June 13 when Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted top military commanders and scientists.
Following a massive American attack on June 22 that hit the nuclear sites with bunker-buster bombs, U.S. President Donald Trump was able to help negotiate a ceasefire that came into effect on Tuesday.
During the war, Mr. Khameni did send a video message to Iran on June 19, and on Thursday, Iranian state television and the supreme leader's own social media pages said he would send another video message to Iran. He expressed his "congratulations on the victory" over Israel in his initial X comment. He said his country ‘delivered a hand slap to America’s face’ in first appearance since ceasefire. In a post on X, his account stated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that the United States "gained no achievement" when it joined the war with Israel against Tehran.