Iran has dealt the U.S. and Israel a “decisive blow” in the Middle East war, its supreme leader claimed Thursday, while Tehran reported “no tangible progress” in negotiations to end the conflict.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's message, read out by a prayer leader at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of the Islamic Republic's founder, came after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution seeking to halt American military action in Iran.
Weeks of talks marked by threats and flare-ups of violence have failed to secure a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows.
The U.S. and Iran have sent divergent messages, with Tehran insisting on steep conditions for progress, even as President Donald Trump again voiced optimism, telling reporters a deal "could happen ... over the weekend."
In his message, Khamenei said his country's enemies, after "facing a decisive blow," were now "experiencing a deeply meaningful and profound humiliation."
