Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iranians for their "unparalleled bravery" in a new message marking Persian New Year known as Norwruz and the Muslim holiday of Eid, according to Iranian State Media.
"The enemy thought that after a day or two, it would be the people who would overthrow the Islamic system. But with the vigilance of you, the people, the unparalleled bravery of Islam’s fighters, and the many sacrifices, the indications of desperation and destitution soon appeared in it," Khamenei said of the joint strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel last June.
The statement also read on Iranian television described "three military and secret wars" experienced by the Iranian people in the last year.
"This war took place ... with the illusion that if it martyred the head of the regime and a number of influential military figures, it would create fear and despair in you, our dear people, and cause you to leave the arena, and in this way, it would realize the dream of dominating Iran and then disintegrating it," Khamenei said.
"But in this holy month, you combined fasting with jihad and provided a vast defense line, as wide as the country, and strong fortifications, as numerous as the squares, neighborhoods, and mosques," Khamenei said.
Khamenei has not been seen since the start of the war. Israel and the U.S. have said he was injured in the war.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last week said that Khamenei was likely "disfigured."