Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory over Israel on Thursday and said Iran had “delivered a hand slap to America’s face,” as he re-emerged after taking shelter in a secret location.
Iran’s supreme leader made the comments on social media and in a video message. He hadn’t been seen in public since Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted top military commanders and scientists.
U.S. President Donald Trump closed the NATO summit by praising his own intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict, and for U.S. airstrikes on Iran. He promised to provide proof that Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed at a news conference on Thursday.
Following a massive attack by the U.S. 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.
Trump cabinet officials are set to brief U.S. senators on the strikes on Thursday.
Before the ceasefire, Iran had responded to the U.S. intervention by sending ballistic missiles in the direction of the U.S. military base in Qatar, though it appeared the Americans were given advance notice of the volley. No deaths or injuries were reported by U.S. or Qatari officials.
More to come