TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed claims by the United States that recent strikes damaged Iran’s nuclear program, calling them ineffective and warning of future retaliation.
In a televised address on Thursday morning his first public appearance since the Iran-Israel war ended Khamenei said the strikes “did not accomplish anything significant” and denied that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had suffered any lasting harm.
Khamenei also warned the U.S. against further military action. “This incident is also repeatable in the future, and should any attack take place, the cost for the enemy and the aggressor will undoubtedly be very high,” he said, referencing Iran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. air base in Qatar last week. No deaths or structural damage were reported in that attack.
The speech followed days of conflicting claims. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes against Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan three of Iran’s key nuclear sites set the country’s program back “by years.” Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon press briefing Thursday, called the operation a “historic success,” and said intelligence showed the facilities were now “inoperable.”
Hegseth added that the U.S. had “no indication” that Iran managed to move its enriched uranium out of Fordo before the attack. Fordo is a heavily fortified site buried deep underground, and was targeted with so-called “bunker buster” bombs.
President Donald Trump, who authorized the strikes, said the operation “totally obliterated” Iran’s enrichment capabilities. However, some reports citing unnamed U.S. officials have suggested the damage may not have been as extensive, prompting the Pentagon to release test footage of the weapons used.
Khamenei’s remarks appeared aimed at restoring public confidence and asserting Iran’s strength following the 12-day conflict. He accused Washington of exaggerating the outcome and declared that Iran had dealt a “heavy blow” in return.
The conflict began on June 13 after Israel launched preemptive strikes based on intelligence suggesting Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon. A day earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formally accused Tehran of violating its non-proliferation obligations marking the first such declaration in two decades.
In response to the military campaign, Iran’s parliament passed a bill Thursday ordering the end of cooperation with the IAEA. This move halts access for international nuclear inspectors and raises new concerns about transparency.
Despite the ceasefire brokered by Washington earlier this week, tensions remain high. On Thursday, Iran’s foreign minister told state television that “no talks” with the United States are planned. Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly exploring ways to restart diplomacy, including proposals for funding a civilian nuclear program in Iran that excludes enrichment capabilities.
Casualty figures from the war remain disputed. Iran’s health ministry reported 610 deaths during the strikes. Israel reported 28 fatalities on its side.
IAEA Director General Rafael said Wednesday that Iran may have relocated some of its enriched uranium before the sites were hit. He did not confirm how much material might have been moved or where it is now located.
The U.S. strikes followed direct confrontations between Iran and Israel, and marked Washington’s most significant military intervention in Iran since the 1980s. Although the ceasefire has held for three days, both sides have kept military forces on high alert.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and denies ever pursuing a nuclear weapon. The full extent of damage to its nuclear infrastructure remains unclear, as independent inspectors have not been allowed back into the country.
As Khamenei reemerges from days of seclusion, his government now faces a region transformed by war, with deepening isolation abroad and heightened pressure at home.
