Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed leader of Iran following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a defiant message to the nation, asserting that Iran is triumphing over its enemies. In a lengthy statement released on his Telegram channel and Iranian state media, Khamenei claimed Iran delivered a “dizzying blow” to the United States and Israel in the ongoing conflict.
The statement marks Khamenei’s first major address since taking over as Supreme Leader after his father was killed in an airstrike at the start of the war on February 28. However, nearly two weeks into his tenure, he has yet to deliver a video or audio message to the Iranian people, fueling speculation about his health following the attack.
In his message, Khamenei emphasized the unity among Iranians across religious, cultural, and political lines, attributing the recent victories to this collective resolve. “Despite all differences, the enemy has been defeated,” he said, describing the current conflict as the third war Iran has faced within 12 months—following a 12-day war with Israel in June 2025 and nationwide protests earlier this year that Tehran blamed on foreign interference.
He claimed that Iran’s unity has inflicted significant damage on the enemies, causing them to “utter contradictory words and nonsense.” Khamenei dismissed Western claims that the assassination of him and top security officials was aimed at destabilizing Iran, asserting instead that the enemies hoped to create fear, despair, and to realize their goal of dividing Iran.
The new leader also addressed recent regional tensions, denying Iranian involvement in attacks on Oman and Turkey and accusing Israel of orchestrating false-flag operations to sow discord between Iran and its neighbors. He warned that such tactics could be replicated in other countries.
Khamenei described Israel’s 12-day military campaign as a “serious miscalculation,” asserting it was an attempt to “overthrow the Islamic system” in Iran. He predicted that Iran’s internal unity would strengthen further, making enemies more subdued and less influential in the coming year.
As Iran navigates this tumultuous period, Mojtaba Khamenei’s words signal a message of resilience and defiance amid ongoing regional and international tensions.