Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claims Iranians dealt enemies 'dizzying blow' in war

In a separate statement carried by Iranian media, Khamenei struck a more forceful tone, warning of intensified action against perceived threats.

• Iran's Supreme Leader credits unity for pushing back adversaries
• Khamenei absent from public, sparking speculation on his health
• Iran confirms deaths of key figures in recent airstrikes

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Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said the country’s adversaries have been pushed back, crediting internal unity during the ongoing confrontation with the United States and Israel. In a written Nowruz message, he stated that Iranians, despite their differences, had come together in a way that ensured the enemy’s defeat.

“At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots -- despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins -- the enemy has been defeated,” he said.

Khamenei also described the outcome of the conflict in sharper terms, saying Iranians had “dealt him (the enemy) a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense.” His remarks were part of a broader message marking the Persian New Year.

The statement comes at a time when Khamenei has yet to appear publicly since taking over leadership following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an Israeli strike on February 28. His absence has fueled speculation about his condition, with officials in Washington and Tel Aviv hinting he could have been injured. US President Donald Trump added to the uncertainty, saying earlier this week, “We don’t know... if he’s dead or not.”

Separately, Khamenei denied accusations that Iran or its regional allies were responsible for attacks on Oman and Turkey, attributing the incidents instead to “deception by the Zionist enemy" referring to Israel.

In another message carried by Iranian state media, he adopted a more hardline tone following recent killings of senior officials. “I express my condolences on the death of the martyr, Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib. Security must be denied to the enemies at home and abroad and provided to the entire nation,” he said.

The developments follow confirmation by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in what they described as a “criminal cowardly terrorist attack by the American-Zionist side at dawn.” Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was also reported killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight.

Despite being formally installed as supreme leader, Khamenei has so far communicated only through written and broadcast messages, though reports suggest a public address may take place on March 21 during Nowruz celebrations.