Khamenei warns U.S. of retaliation in first appearance since ceasefire

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any future U.S. attack would trigger strikes on American bases in the region, marking his first public remarks since the Iran-Israel ceasefire.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday said that Iran would retaliate against any new U.S. military strike by targeting American bases across the Middle East. His televised remarks marked his first public message since a ceasefire paused hostilities between Iran and Israel.

Khamenei, stated that any future attack on Iran would carry a "great cost", pointing to Tehran’s earlier missile strike on a key U.S. base in Qatar following Washington’s involvement in Israeli operations.

"The Islamic Republic slapped America in the face. It attacked one of the important American bases in the region," Khamenei said. The pre-recorded address was aired on state television and delivered from an undisclosed location, with the Iranian flag and a portrait of late leader Ruhollah Khomeini in the background.

He warned that Iran retains the capacity to launch further regional strikes if provoked. "The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to important American centres in the region and can take action against them whenever it deems necessary is not a small incident, it is a major incident, and this incident can be repeated in the future if an attack is made," he said.

His remarks follow comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said "Sure" when asked on Wednesday whether the U.S. would strike again if Iran resumed its nuclear enrichment programme.

Khamenei’s message underscores the continued volatility of the situation despite the ceasefire, as tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities and regional influence persist.

Copied