TEHRAN : Labeling the strike on Iranian nuclear sites as a political move, he asserted that the real battle is about sovereignty—not centrifuges.

Ayatollah Khamenei sharply criticized the United States, saying the core issue was not nuclear enrichment or missiles, but a continuous push by Washington to see Iran surrender. “One day it’s about human rights, another day it’s about women’s rights, then it’s about the nuclear issue,” he said. “But in reality, it’s always been about forcing Iran to bow.”

The Supreme Leader described the recent attack on Iranian nuclear sites as a failed attempt by the U.S. to assert dominance. “They failed to achieve anything significant,” he stated, accusing the U.S. of overstating the success of their actions. He particularly singled out former President Donald Trump, saying his calls for Iran to surrender were “too big for the mouth of the president of the United States.”

“For a great country and nation like Iran, the very mention of surrender is an insult,” Khamenei emphasized, adding that Trump’s remarks accidentally revealed the truth—namely, that the U.S. has opposed the Islamic Republic since its inception.

In contrast to the U.S. narrative, Khamenei pointed to Iran’s own military actions. “We attacked one of the US’s key bases in the region, and they tried to downplay it,” he said, calling Iran’s response a “heavy slap” to American forces and proof of Iranian unity.

“The people of Iran have shown that they speak with one voice,” he declared, reiterating that the Islamic Republic remains resilient in the face of foreign pressure.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.