Iran's supreme leader says US strikes 'gained no achievements'

June 26, 2025

Iran's supreme leader said the recent US air strikes in Syria
and Iraq
had
"gained no achievements", speaking on state TV Tuesday.
The comments from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
came just hours after
attacks on
military targets in Syria,
and followed
days of speculation
that Iran might retaliate.
In his televised speech, Khamenei said the Western powers
were aware that their attacks would not
have serious consequences.

He said it was part of a psychological operation aimed at
demonizing Iran. The attacks had, he said,
"no strategic value".

Khamenei was also
critical of the Iraqi government
for allowing the use of its territory
for the US counter-terrorism operation.
The US military
said its attacks had
been aimed at
eliminating an
imminent threat to allies in the region.
Local officials
in Syria said
nine people were killed.

Khamenei's comments
were the first formal
response from the Iranian government.
The strikes had been
perceived as a direct
message from the US
to Iran and its
entrenched allies in Syria
and Iraq,
including
Hezbollah.