Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that the United States has suffered a “disgraceful defeat” in its recent military campaign against Iran, in a written message delivered on Thursday.
The statement, broadcast on Iranian state television, frames the outcome as a turning point and marks what Khamenei described as a “new chapter” for the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Supreme Leader said the assessment comes exactly two months after the start of what he called “the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region,” arguing that Washington’s strategic objectives have failed despite weeks of intense naval and aerial operations.
His remarks follow a series of high-stakes moves in the ongoing conflict, including the U.S.-led naval blockade and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
While U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that about 80 per cent of Iran’s missile-making capabilities have been neutralized, Tehran’s leadership has rejected that assessment and insists on ongoing resistance.
Khamenei’s declaration of victory is echoed by other senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and military adviser Mohsen Rezaei, who have warned that the U.S. maritime strategy is doomed and warned of a severe response if the naval blockade continues.
