Iranian Supreme Leader Threatens Severe Retaliation After US Nuclear Facility Strikes

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emerged from weeks of hiding to deliver a defiant message against the United States, claiming his nation had delivered a symbolic “slap” to America through recent military actions. In his first public appearance since June 19, the 86-year-old leader appeared visibly fatigued but remained resolute in his warnings against further US aggression.
The supreme leader dismissed Sunday’s devastating US attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, despite international confirmation of substantial damage. President Trump had claimed the strikes completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but Khamenei characterized this as exaggeration while acknowledging significant setbacks to the program.
Following the implementation of a ceasefire agreement brokered after 12 days of intense conflict, Iranian authorities began the slow process of normalizing daily life. The country partially reopened its airspace for the first time since hostilities began, allowing domestic and international flights to resume in the eastern regions.
Casualty figures from the conflict paint a grim picture, with Iranian officials reporting 606 deaths and over 5,000 wounded, while independent human rights groups suggest even higher numbers. The conflict saw Iran launch more than 550 missiles toward Israel, with Israeli forces responding by targeting over 720 Iranian military sites and eight nuclear facilities.