Iran's Khamenei claims U.S. strike didn't cause major damage to nuclear facilities

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed in a video message published on Thursday that the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities had no major effect. Why it matters: Khamenei's video marked the first time he has been seen in a week. His absence has raised concerns about his health and whether he remains involved in Iran's decision-making. Khamenei is still believed to be hiding in the bunker, where he reportedly went amid fears of an assassination attempt from Israel at the start of the 12-day war between the two nations.What they're saying: Khamenei said in his video message that the U.S. entered the war because it felt it had to save Israel from being destroyed. "It entered the war to save it, but it did not achieve anything from this war. They attacked our nuclear facilities, but they were unable to do anything important," he said. Khamenei claimed President Trump "exaggerated" the results of the U.S. strikes on Iran. "They could not do anything, they could not achieve their goal, and they are exaggerating to cover up the truth," he said.He added that Iran "dealt America a hand slap in the face" by attacking one of the U.S. bases in the region and claimed that the Trump administration tried to minimize the damages caused. "It is a major attack, and this can be repeated in the future. If an attack on Iran occurs, the cost to the enemy will definitely be high," he said.Khamenei said Trump didn't want to destroy Iran's nuclear program but to force it to surrender to the U.S. demands, and said that "will never happen." State of play: Despite Khamenei's claims, Israeli intelligence assessments say the U.S. strikes caused severe damage to Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, that left the uranium enrichment system inoperable. A new report by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security said that the Israeli and U.S. attacks "have effectively destroyed Iran's centrifuge enrichment program." "It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack," the report said. Nevertheless, the report said "there are residuals such as stocks of 60 percent, 20 percent and 3-5 percent enriched uranium and centrifuges manufactured but not yet installed at Natanz or Fordow." "These non-destroyed parts pose a threat as they can be used in the future to produce weapon-grade uranium," the report said.Zoom out: The brief conflict between the two nations has come at a high cost for Iran's leader. Khamenei is facing the loss of top military leadership, the near-total destruction of Iran's nuclear program, the deaths of key nuclear scientists, the elimination of half his ballistic missile force, and the near-collapse of the nation's air defenses.The war ended with Iran at its weakest point since its devastating eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s.Israeli and U.S. officials both claim that it will take Iran years to rebuild its military power, reestablish its proxy network and restore its deterrence.Go deeper: Trump wages all-out fight for control of Iran strike narrative

Comments

World news

Pregnant British teenager breaks down in foreign court as she claims 'I was tortured'

Express

Comments

Similar News

I spent 31 years advising US on the Iran threat – it’s the last gasps of a dying regime, Trump’s next move is crucial

Iran executes three prisoners accused of spying for Israel in brutal crackdown in wake of 12-day war

Defeated Iran massacres 10 anti-regime prisoners and blames Israeli airstrike as Ayatollah exacts revenge on OWN people

Inside Op Red Wedding – Israel’s fierce wave of assassinations killing 30 Iran generals in first MINUTES of 12-day war

Iran was building warheads ‘capable of blitzing London’ as twisted regime raced to have world’s biggest missile arsenal

‘Bombs went through like butter’ Trump declares as he rips critics who claim US attacks didn’t destroy Iran nuke sites

Inspectors BLOCKED from nuke sites as Iran says they will never stop enriching uranium amid fears bomb is ‘months away’

Iran scrambles to fix ‘Mount Doom’ nuke site, pics show as UN warns Ayatollah could restart crippled bomb plot in MONTHS

Israel’s War on Iran Backfired

Tuesday briefing: How weakened is Iran after Operation Midnight Hammer – and where might it go from here?

Iran-linked hackers threaten to release emails stolen from Trump associates

‘A new wave of repression’: fears for Iran’s political prisoners after Israel war

Grossi: Iran's enriched uranium, facilities likely set back, but its nuclear knowledge still intact

Fordo Nuclear Site Work Taking Place in Iran, Satellate Images Show

Iran raises death toll from war with Israel to more than 900

A week into the fragile Israel-Iran peace agreement, here's what we still don't know

Newsmax host wants arrest of ‘vermin’ CNN owners for ‘sedition’ over Iran intel assessment story

Iran Releases Death Toll Of Israel’s Evin Prison Attack As Officials Remain Suspicious Of Ceasefire

Iran's top cleric issues fatwa against Donald Trump - 'execution or crucifiction'

Iran’s ‘mafia’ regime won’t be giving up that easily: Full Comment podcast

World news

Pregnant British teenager breaks down in foreign court as she claims 'I was tortured'

Dramatic explosion at fireworks warehouse ahead of July 4 celebrations

Wildfire kills 2 people in Spain as parts of Europe bake in heat wave

Trump suggests teaching migrants how to run away from alligators

Ukraine looks to jointly produce weapons with allies, while US halts some shipments

Asia rallies behind Zohran Mamdani over MAGA criticism for eating rice with his hand

Faith leaders bear witness as migrants make their case in immigration court

Chaos in Spain as locals and tourists left stranded for 14 hours in area loved by Brits

French cops pictured in buggies paid for by UK but still can't stop migrant boats

Horror as investigators find nearly 400 bodies hidden in business park

Donald Trump threatens to deport US citizens if they meet one condition

Chaos in Greece as olive oil crisis threatens huge shortage

Putin reeling as Ukraine launches 'deepest' attack of war 620 miles inside Russian border

Mamdani hits back at Trump’s deportation threat: ‘We will not accept this intimidation’

Kanye West stripped of Australian visa over Heil Hitler song

Bryan Kohberger plea deal updates: Idaho murder suspect set to appear in court for hearing on murder charges

Trump jokes about immigrants being attacked by alligators during ‘Florida Alcatraz’ tour

Trump bill latest: House Republicans threaten to tank ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ after marathon vote passes welfare cuts

Two killed in Spain wildfires as severe heatwave engulfs Europe

Europe heatwave latest: Two killed in Spanish wildfire as extreme temperatures sweep the continent

Nearly 400 human corpses found piled high at 'secret crematorium' near Mexico-US border

Mystery over how five-year-old girl plunged 50ft from Disney cruise ship

Nearly 400 corpses found piled on top of each other inside crematorium

The Dalai Lama issues statement to China ahead of his 90th birthday

I’ve never met a relaxed woman – so I tried to become one

New criminal charges considered over baby deaths at Lucy Letby hospitals

Four reasons the Brits can’t stop winning at Wimbledon

BBC Women’s Euro 2025 commentators, presenters and pundits, in full

Why Netanyahu only wants a 60-day ceasefire - not a permanent one

Wildfire kills two people in Spain amid European heat wave

Local officials grow wary of helping ICE detain immigrants

Trump's big day: A feud, a Senate win and "Alligator Alcatraz"

Thune's big, bold bill has rattled House Republicans

Horrific final hours of divers trapped inside 30-inch pipe 60ft under sea

Teen 'traumatised' as extreme sunburn on first day in Thailand blisters whole face

Bella Culley - 'snake-like' scar could hold key to Brit teen 'drug mule' mystery

Dad's 10 word statement after 'ghost children' found in nappies on secluded farm

You need two documents to take common drug on holiday this year

British tourist struck by lightning and thrown off his feet while fishing on holiday from hell

Inside the sad lives of siblings, 9 and 6, found on 'filthy farm' speaking own unusual language

How an Ontario tech company is looking to track the spread of dangerous diseases

Canada set up a $50M vaccine injury program. Those harmed say it’s failing them.

Oxaro statement: Consulting firm ‘continues to adapt’ approach to VISP

Elon Musk posts grovelling Trump tweet after president’s deportation threat

Mogadishu crash: Huge explosion rocks major airport

Palestine Action ban to be voted on - when, why and how it will happen

Diddy verdict live: Jury deadlocked on final, most serious count as deliberations continue for third day

Watch as millions of ‘lovebugs’ swarm hikers on South Korean mountain

Many Germans believe Frederick the Great brought potatoes to the country. It’s not true

Flights cancelled and thousands without power after Australia hit by ‘bomb cyclone’

What makes someone 'cool'? New study reveals the key to being 'fresh'

Snake on a plane! Flight delayed by two hours after 'dangerous looking' reptile found in plane's cargo hold

Seven breakout stars to watch at Euro 2025 – including a ‘Little Messi’

Costa Rica's top court seeks to strip President Chaves' immunity over corruption case

Oil-drilling ship capsizes in Gulf of Suez, killing at least 4 crewmen, Egypt says

Russia ramps up offensives on 2 fronts in Ukraine as both sides seek an advantage

Venezuelan lawmakers declare UN human rights chief persona non grata