Khamenei warns against future US attacks in 1st statement since truce

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday his country had delivered a "slap to America's face" with its strike on a US airbase in Qatar, and warned against any further attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire was declared with Israel after 12 days of war.

- Agencies

DUBAI/WASHINGTON:

Khamenei spoke in a recorded video broadcast on Iranian state television, his first appearance since June 19. The 86-year-old, a skilled orator known for his forceful addresses to the country's more than 90 million people, appeared and sounded more tired than he had just a week ago, speaking in a hoarse voice and occasionally stumbling over his words.

The speech, which went on for more than 10 minutes, was filled with warnings and threats directed towards the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic's longtime adversaries.

Downplays US strikes The supreme leader downplayed Sunday's US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites using bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, saying that US President Donald Trump — who said the attack "completely and fully obliterated Iran's nuclear programme — had "exaggerated" its impact. "They could not achieve anything significant," Khamenei said. Missing from his video message was any mention of Iran's nuclear programme and the status of their facilities and centrifuges following extensive US and Israeli strikes.