Iran's Supreme Leader Claims 'Surprise Blow' Against US and Israel

Tehran. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated on Friday that Iran delivered a 'surprise blow' to its enemies in the war against the United States and Israel.

Israel has accused Tehran of attacking the holy sites in Jerusalem following an explosion in the Old City, located a few hundred meters from Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being named the successor to his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike at the beginning of the war. He has only issued written statements.

In a written message for the Persian New Year, Nowruz, Khamenei said, "The Iranians have given the enemy a jolt that now causes them to start uttering contradictory words and nonsense."

Khamenei stated in his message, "The enemy has been defeated due to the unity built among our countrymen at this time, despite differences in religious, intellectual, cultural, and political origins."