Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has congratulated the Iranian nation on what he called a “historic and glorious victory” over the Israeli regime and its Western backers, including the United States, following recent military confrontations that he said exposed the vulnerability of Iran’s enemies.

In a televised address—his third video message on the matter—Ayatollah Khamenei said the Islamic Republic had struck a decisive blow to both Israel and the U.S., affirming Iran’s strength and deterrent power in the region.

“Despite all the propaganda and bluster, the Zionist regime was nearly crushed under the weight of Iran’s counterattack,” he said, noting that Iran’s missile response shattered the illusion of invincibility surrounding Israeli defenses.

He honored the memory of Iranian commanders and scientists martyred in recent Israeli attacks and emphasized that Iran’s unprecedented military actions took its enemies by complete surprise. “What they never imagined has now become a reality,” he said.

According to the Supreme Leader, Iranian forces successfully penetrated advanced, multilayered enemy defenses and destroyed numerous military and urban centers, making it clear that future acts of aggression would come at a heavy cost.

He also declared that Iran had scored a strategic victory over the United States, which he said intervened militarily out of fear that the Zionist regime would collapse without support. “Their strikes achieved nothing, and the Islamic Republic stood firm,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

He called for legal action against the U.S. for its attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, emphasizing the need to pursue justice through international legal avenues.

The Supreme Leader criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for exaggerating the conflict in an effort to mask American failure. “His inflated rhetoric only revealed their desperation,” he said, describing Iran’s retaliatory strike on the U.S. Al Udeid base in Qatar as a powerful demonstration of Iran’s capabilities.

“What happened was significant, though they tried to downplay it,” Khamenei said. “The Islamic Republic proved it can strike key U.S. targets at will—this reality cannot be ignored.”

He then praised the extraordinary unity of the Iranian people in the face of foreign threats. “Nearly 90 million Iranians stood together with one voice in support of their armed forces. This unity is a source of immense pride.”

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Trump’s call for Iranian “surrender,” saying the issue transcends nuclear matters and is rooted in a long-standing Western desire to dominate Iran. “It has never been about enrichment or missiles—it is about breaking Iran’s will,” he said.

“But such arrogance, especially from someone like Trump, is laughable,” he added, calling the demand for Iran’s submission “nonsense” that would be ridiculed by wise minds around the world.

The Supreme Leader concluded by affirming Iran’s cultural and historical greatness and praying for the continued victory of the Iranian people.

“This nation will never surrender,” he declared. “With God’s help, Iran will always prevail.” (ILKHA)