MIDDLE-EAST: US Defends Iran Strikes As Khamenei Declares Victory Over Israel

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The United States has defended its military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel in the aftermath of a tense conflict.

Speaking at the Pentagon on Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the strikes “historic” and pushed back against media reports suggesting limited impact.

He criticized early intelligence assessments that said Iran’s nuclear program had only been set back by a few months.

“This is a huge deal,” Hegseth said. “President Trump accomplished what others only talked about. He created the conditions to end the war by decimating Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Hegseth in the briefing. He stated the operation had gone exactly as planned. According to him, 30,000-pound bombs were dropped and “functioned as designed.”

“We know the weapons hit their targets. We saw it through intelligence and trailing jets,” Caine said.

He revealed that Iran had tried to shield its Fordow enrichment site by sealing shafts with concrete days before the attack. But the bombs broke through.

A satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on June 24 showed visible damage to the Fordow site, confirming parts of the US narrative.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei used his first public remarks since the ceasefire to claim a symbolic win over Israel. Speaking in a recorded message, he said the Islamic Republic “crushed” the Zionist regime.

He said the United States intervened only because it feared Israel’s collapse. “The Americans did not gain anything from this war,” Khamenei added.

He also accused the US of seeking Iran’s total surrender. Referring to a post by President Trump calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” Khamenei said the demand was “unacceptable and illogical.”

Iran’s foreign ministry has yet to confirm whether it will join proposed talks with the US next week. President Trump mentioned the possibility at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO news conference.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet top security officials to discuss the next steps in Gaza.

A possible ceasefire deal, backed by the US, is on the table. It would involve the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day halt in fighting.

Back in Tehran, the government is working to lift public morale. On Wednesday, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra held a free concert in Azadi Square, honoring Iranians killed in the 12-day conflict.

The orchestra performed five patriotic pieces, including “Ey Iran,” a song once banned for its anti-government tone.

The government has also reopened cultural venues and announced a series of free performances across the capital.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Fifty Israeli hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza. Talks continue behind closed doors, but both sides are cautious.

For now, Iran and Israel have paused their weapons. But the battle over truth, power, and perception rages on.