President Donald Trump, in a fiery Truth Social post on Thursday, condemned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s claim of victory over Israel, calling it a “lie” and warning that Iran had narrowly avoided a catastrophic final strike on its capital.
Trump revealed that he personally ordered Israel to recall a fleet of warplanes that were en route to Tehran during the final stage of the 12-day war, claiming the strike would have resulted in “tremendous damage” and “many Iranians killed.”
“I knew EXACTLY where [Khamenei] was sheltered,” Trump wrote. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”
According to Trump, efforts were underway to lift economic sanctions on Iran to facilitate a fast recovery, but he abruptly dropped those discussions following what he described as Khamenei’s “statement of anger, hatred, and disgust.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state media released a pre-recorded video of Ayatollah Khamenei declaring a “victory” against both Israel and the United States, stating the Islamic Republic’s missile strikes had exposed vulnerabilities in Israeli and U.S. defenses and forced Washington into a limited war it failed to win.
Khamenei also praised the Iranian people for their “extraordinary unity” and vowed that Iran would “never surrender,” calling any demand for capitulation from the U.S. “absurd” and “an insult to the Iranian nation.”
The two leaders’ sharply conflicting messages come just days after an internationally brokered ceasefire halted the deadliest military exchange between Iran and Israel in decades. The conflict erupted on June 13 after Israeli airstrikes targeted three major nuclear enrichment sites in Iran, prompting retaliatory missile strikes across the region.
While both countries have claimed victory, independent analysts remain cautious, warning that tensions could flare again if diplomatic efforts falter.
⚠️ This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.