Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, broke a week-long silence on Thursday with a video statement celebrating what he called a “victory” over Israel and the United States. His message, recorded against a familiar backdrop of a beige curtain, the Iranian flag, and a portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, marked his first public appearance since the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

“The American regime entered into a direct war because it felt that if it did not enter, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed,” Khamenei said. “But it did not gain anything from this war.”

Public Concern Over Khamenei’s Whereabouts

Khamenei’s absence had stirred growing unease among Iranians, with many questioning his health and location. Although he issued two written statements during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, he had remained entirely out of sight since the U.S. strike on Sunday.

Iranian officials previously claimed the 85-year-old leader had taken refuge in a secure bunker and avoided all electronic communication, citing fears of a possible assassination attempt.

Silence on Nuclear Damage and Retaliation

The video did not address the damage from the U.S. or Israeli strikes, nor did it comment on the status of Iran’s nuclear program—three facilities had been bombed in the U.S. assault. Nor did Khamenei mention the subsequent Iranian retaliation, which included missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar, or the terms of the cease-fire reached Tuesday.

The timing of the recording remains unclear. However, the references to U.S. involvement suggest it was filmed after the American airstrikes.