Iran’s Khamenei resurfaces to warn against future US attacks in first statement since ceasefire

By Farnoush Amiri and David Rising

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 U.S. 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.

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 toward the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic’s longtime adversaries.

The supreme leader downplayed Sunday’s U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites using bunker-buster bombs