### Iran’s Supreme Leader on the June conflict
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday delivered a strong rebuke to the United States and Israel, claiming that Tehran and its allies had defeated them during June’s 12-Day War. He portrayed the confrontation as proof of Iran’s growing influence and the declining power of its enemies.
### Statements and accusations
Speaking before senior clerics and Revolutionary Guard commanders, Khamenei said that both Israel and the United States “failed to achieve their goals” and that “the resistance front emerged stronger and more unified.” He praised Iranian-backed forces across the region for “standing firm against decades of American and Zionist aggression.”
He also accused Washington of inciting instability in the Middle East to protect Israel’s security interests but asserted that such efforts were “crumbling in the face of Muslim unity.”
### Broader message
Khamenei’s remarks came after weeks of heightened regional tensions and military exchanges involving Iranian allies. He framed the war not as a local conflict but as part of a long-term struggle against Western influence, saying that “the age of American dominance is coming to an end.”
### Political and symbolic purpose
Analysts view Khamenei’s words as part of a strategy to rally domestic support and reinforce Iran’s leadership role within the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” The speech emphasized Iran’s self-image as the central power confronting the US-Israeli alliance and guiding regional opposition.
> “The Americans and Zionists imagined they could reshape the region, but it is they who have been reshaped by our steadfastness,” Khamenei declared.
### Summary interpretation
Khamenei’s address portrayed Iran as victorious in a symbolic 12-day conflict against the US and Israel, framing it as a sign of fading Western authority and strengthening regional resistance.
> **Author’s summary:** Khamenei asserted that Iran’s role in the June 12-Day War marked a turning point, showing Tehran’s rising power and the weakening influence of the United States and Israel.
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JNS.org — 2025-11-29