The United States minimized the statements made on Thursday (26) by the Supreme Iran leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said he defeated Israel, even after suffering strong damage to his nuclear program during the 12-day war. The American response came after Khamenei reappears publicly in the midst of a wave of speculation about his health.
During a press conference in Washington, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said statements such as Khamenei are expected in authoritarian regimes and aim to preserve the image of power before the population.
“When you have a totalitarian regime, you need to maintain appearances. Anyone with common sense knows the truth about Saturday night attacks-they were extremely successful and have led to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, something the president is very grateful,” Leavitt told journalists.
Khamenei’s pronouncement was broadcast this Thursday through the Iranian state agency Irna. At the time, he said that “despite all this noise and all these allegations, the Zionist regime almost collapsed and was crushed by the blows of the Islamic Republic.” In reference to the United States, he added that Americans have “gained anything when entering the war.”
According to American intelligence sources, air strikes by Israel and the US during the confrontation caused significant damage to the Iranian nuclear program and the country’s military infrastructure.
Khamenei’s reappearance occurs after almost a week without public demonstrations, which generated internal speculation and concern among Iranian authorities regarding the country’s leadership during the largest recent crisis of the Islamic Republic. The speech of Aiatola, made in an unveiled place, sought to ward off rumors about his health and reaffirm the official resistance speech against the West.
