Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ludicrously claims victory over Israel

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed victory over Tehran’s enemies and fired off on Donald Trump in a blistering attack of the US President. Follow updates.

Iran’s Supreme Leader has crawled out of his bunker to bizarrely claim victory over Tehran’s enemies as the United States released further details of its “devastating” Midnight Hammer operation.

A furious US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted leaked low-confidence intelligence reports that cast doubt on the success of the bombing raid on Iran, saying there was no doubt the regime’s nuclear aspirations had been significantly set back.

He quoted reports from the United Nations and Iran’s own military chief acknowledging the crushing damage to Iran’s attempts to create a nuclear weapon.

“President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history and it was a resounding success, resulting in a ceasefire agreement, and the end of the 12 Day War,” he said.

“Step back for a second – because of decisive military action, President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating, choose your word, obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader has crawled out of his bunker to bizarrely claim victory over Tehran’s enemies. Picture: AFP

Moments before the Pentagon’s press conference, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emerged from hiding to claim victory over both America and Israel in the conflict.

“The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America’s face,” Khamenei said in his first appearance since the US dropped bombs on Iran.

“US hit nuclear sites but couldn’t achieve much. US President Trump needed to do showmanship.”

In another post on X, he claimed Tehran’s missile barrage on Israel had devastated its enemy. “With all that commotion and all those claims, the Zionist regime was practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic,” he said.

FOLLOW THE UPDATES BELOW:

‘DADDY’S HOME’: TRUMP’S NEW NICKNAME SAGA CONTINUES

It comes after Donald Trump was bizarrely labelled “Daddy” as he strong-armed European leaders to more than double defence spending at a security summit in the Netherlands.

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte made an awkward interjection during Mr Trump’s speech in The Hague when the US president was comparing Iran and Israel to “two kids fighting in a school yard”.

Mr Rutte turned heads when he said: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop”.

The comment was in reference to Mr Trump dropping the F-Bomb in frustration at Iran and Israel after both countries breached a ceasefire he brokered.

Hours later, the White House embraced Mr Trump’s new nickname by releasing a video of the US President returning from the summit, with Usher’s ‘Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)’ as the backing track.

US President Donald Trump returns from the 2025 NATO Summit. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

The White House releases a clip of President Donald Trump returning from NATO to Usher song ‘Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)’. Picture: YouTube

While at the summit, Mr Trump forced the 32-member states to agree to spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence – more than doubling current budgets and adding $US2.52 trillion to the alliance’s security budgets.

The move will continue to heap pressure on Australia to lift its defence budget from just over 2 per cent of GBP – barely more than is spent on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

ADF SUPPORT 148 AUSSIES IN TEL AVIV

As of Thursday, Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and diplomats have supported 148 Australians and their immediate family members to leave Tel Aviv on two ADF assisted departure flights.

Consular staff spoke with more than 300 of those registered as wanting to depart to offer seats on the second flight, 29 of those seats were taken up.

The Australian government is considering additional assisted departures from Israel.

Approximately 4,300 Australians and family members have registered with DFAT as wishing to depart the region. Approximately 3,200 are in Iran and 1,100 are in Israel.

QUEEN MAXIMA APPEARS TO MOCK TRUMP

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has been accused of mimicking Donald Trump during a public appearance — while standing right beside him.

The moment unfolded as Mr Trump posed for photos with Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander following his arrival in the Netherlands for the NATO summit on Wednesday.

MACRON WARNS ISRAEL-IRAN CEASEFIRE IS VOLATILE

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned the ceasefire between Iran and Israel is “volatile and fragile” and urged renewed diplomatic negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

″We should resume diplomatic and technical work on the nuclear question (with Iran, the US, and European countries),” he said. ″In the coming weeks, we will have a choice to make on this issue.”

European nations are working to revive diplomatic talks aimed at reaching a deal to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment before a critical October 2025 deadline, when UN sanctions tied to the 2015 nuclear agreement are set to expire.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and denies pursuing nuclear weapons.

Originally published as Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ludicrously claims victory over Israel