Iran's supreme leader says Trump ‘exaggerated' impact of US strikes on nuclear sites
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei on Thursday said US President Donald Trump 'exaggerated' the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold.
In a statement and a televised speech carried by state media, he hailed his country's 'victory' over Israel and vowed never to surrender to the United States, while claiming that Washington had been dealt a 'slap' after striking Iranian nuclear sites.
Khamenei's remarks come two days after a ceasefire ended a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, the foes' deadliest and most destructive confrontation in history.
It also follows a stinging row in the United States over the actual extent of the damage inflicted by American strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict.
'The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,' Khamenei said.
A screengrab of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressing the nation. Photo: AFP/IRIB
The United States 'has gained nothing from this war', he said, adding that American strikes 'did nothing significant' to Iran's nuclear facilities.
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