Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei broke his weeklong silence, claiming in a televised speech that his country had secured a victory over Israel and delivered a "slap in the face" to Washington.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday his country had delivered a "slap to America’s face” with its strike on an American base in Qatar, and warned against any further U.S. attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire was declared with Israel after 12 days of war.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that Iran would respond to any further U.S. attacks by targeting American military bases in the Middle East, while declaring what he described as a "total victory" over Israel.