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Russia wants cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to continue, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he would continue cooperating with US President Donald Trump to “defeat our common enemies, free our hostages, and quickly expand the circle of peace.”
He posted the message alongside a photo of himself holding hands with Trump.
Iran has officially enacted a law to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after final approval by the Guardian Council, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Thursday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel and said the United States was dealt a blow during the conflict, in a televised message aired Thursday—his first public remarks since a ceasefire took effect on Tuesday.
Khamenei said Israel was “crushed” under Iranian strikes and claimed the US failed to achieve its goals after entering the conflict to protect its ally.
“The Zionist regime, with all its noise and claims, was nearly brought to its knees,” he said, adding that the United States “gained nothing” and received “a harsh slap” in return.
The setting of Thursday’s video appeared identical to his previous wartime address. Iran International previously reported that Khamenei and his family were moved to a secure underground bunker in Lavizan, north of Tehran, shortly after the conflict began.
Iran’s supreme leader says US ultimately seeks 'surrender and defeat of Iran'
In his message, Khamenei responded to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said Iran must “surrender.” Khamenei dismissed the demand as insulting and claimed it revealed the true objective of US policy.
Khamenei said Trump’s remarks revealed that the issue was not Iran’s nuclear program or missile development, but rather a broader effort to force the Islamic Republic into submission. “It’s no longer about enrichment or missiles,” he said. “It’s about surrender. That’s what they want.” He added that such language was “beneath the dignity of a president” and would only strengthen Iran’s resolve. “A country with our history and culture will never accept this kind of humiliation,” he said.
Last week, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US knew Khamenei’s location and called him an “easy target,” adding, “We are not going to take him out—at least not for now.” He also warned that American patience was “wearing thin.”
Days later, Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Speaking afterward, he appeared to soften his tone, saying, “Regime change takes chaos, and ideally, we don't want to see so much chaos, so we'll see how it does.” He added that the US is preparing for a new round of talks with Iran next week.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel was “nearly brought to its knees” under Iranian strikes, in a message published on his Telegram account, three days after a ceasefire took effect.
“I congratulate the great Iranian nation on the defeat of the fake Zionist regime,” Khamenei said, according to his Telegram channel, with the full speech due to be published later.
“Despite all its noise and claims, the Zionist regime was nearly crushed under the strikes of the Islamic Republic.”
In additional excerpts published on his Telegram channel, Khamenei said the United States directly entered the conflict to prevent Israel’s complete destruction but ultimately failed to achieve any results.
“My second congratulations go to the victory of our dear Iran over the American regime,” he said. “The US entered the war directly because it felt that if it did not, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. Yet it gained nothing from this war.”
“Here too, the Islamic Republic emerged victorious and delivered a harsh slap to the face of America,” Khamenei added.
Khamenei also praised what he described as the “extraordinary unity” of the Iranian people during the recent conflict.
“Ninety million people stood together, shoulder to shoulder, without any division in their demands or support,” Khamenei said.
He added that this unity would continue in the future.
