Khamenei’s War Cry: U.S. Intervention Saved Israel from Total Collapse, But Iran Claims Victory

Khamenei Breaks Silence: “America Feared Israel’s Collapse”

In a dramatic return to the public eye, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a scathing post-war address on June 26, 2025, asserting that the United States entered the Israel-Iran conflict only to prevent Israel’s complete destruction. Speaking from Tehran after nearly two weeks in hiding during the war, Khamenei declared, “With all that commotion and all those claims, the Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic”.

Khamenei’s remarks come just days after a fragile ceasefire was brokered by the U.S. and Qatar, ending a 12-day war that saw massive Israeli airstrikes, Iranian missile retaliation, and a U.S. bombing campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the intervention as a “spectacular success,” Khamenei dismissed it as a desperate move that “achieved nothing”.

The Supreme Leader’s statement is more than rhetorical bravado it’s a calculated attempt to reframe the war’s outcome as a strategic victory for Iran, despite the heavy toll in lives and infrastructure.

The War’s Turning Point: Operation Midnight Hammer

The conflict, which erupted on June 13, escalated rapidly after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks, some of which breached Israel’s Iron Dome defenses. As the war intensified, the U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, targeting Iran’s key nuclear sites Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

While Trump claimed the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities, U.S. intelligence assessments have been mixed. Some reports suggest the damage may have only delayed Iran’s program by a few months, while others argue that key facilities were buried under rubble, requiring years to rebuild.

Khamenei, however, used the ambiguity to his advantage. “The U.S. gained no achievement,” he said, portraying the American intervention as a symbol of weakness, not strength. He also claimed that Iran’s resistance delivered a “hard slap to America’s face,” echoing the regime’s long-standing anti-Western rhetoric.

Fallout and Future Flashpoints

Khamenei’s speech has reignited tensions just as diplomatic efforts were beginning to take shape. The U.S. and Iran are expected to hold talks next week, but Khamenei’s defiant tone may complicate negotiations. His claim of victory could embolden hardliners within Iran’s political and military establishment, many of whom opposed the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Israel has remained largely silent, with Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterating that the war “thwarted Iran’s nuclear project” and warning that any attempt to rebuild it would be met with “the same intensity”.

The regional implications are profound. Khamenei’s framing of the war as a near-defeat for Israel could fuel proxy conflicts across Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, where Iran-backed militias operate. It also raises questions about the credibility of U.S. deterrence, especially as China and Russia continue to court Middle Eastern allies.

For now, the ceasefire holds but the ideological war is far from over. Khamenei’s speech signals that Iran sees the recent conflict not as an end, but as a prelude to a longer struggle for regional dominance and ideological legitimacy.

Conclusion:
Ayatollah Khamenei’s fiery post-war declaration has thrown a wrench into the fragile calm following the Israel-Iran war. By claiming that the U.S. intervened out of fear for Israel’s survival, he’s not just rewriting the war’s narrative, he’s challenging the geopolitical balance of power. As the world watches for the next move, one thing is clear: the battle for perception is just beginning.

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