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Iran delivered ‘slap to America’s face’ with Qatar airbase attack, says Supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s pre-recorded speech was filled with warnings and threats directed towards the US and Israel
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme leader, said on Thursday his country had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by striking a US airbase in Qatar and warned against further attacks, in his first public comments since a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Khamenei’s pre-recorded speech that was broadcast on Iranian state television, his first appearance since June 19, was filled with warnings and threats directed toward the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic’s long-time adversaries.
The 86-year-old, a skilled orator known for his forceful addresses to the country’s more than 90 million people, appeared more tired than he had just a week ago, speaking in a hoarse voice and occasionally stumbling over his words.
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Khamenei downplayed US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday using bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, saying that US President Donald Trump – who said the attack “completely and fully obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme – had exaggerated its impact.
“They could not achieve anything significant,” Khamenei said. Missing from his more than 10-minute video message was any mention of Iran’s nuclear programme and the status of their facilities and centrifuges after extensive US and Israeli strikes.
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His characterisation of Monday’s strike on the US airbase in Qatar contrasted with US accounts of it as a limited attack with no casualties.
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