Tehran, 26 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Israel was "crushed" during the two countries' brief war, in his first public comments since a ceasefire came into force.

Khamenei said in a video message cited by state news agency IRNA on Thursday that the Iranian people had "shown their dignity, their outstanding and extraordinary personality" during the 12-day conflict with Israel.

The "Zionist regime" had been "struck down and crushed," Khamenei said.

Iran suffered major attacks on its nuclear and military facilities during the war which began on June 13, as well as losing many top scientists and military leaders in Israeli attacks. The US also intervened on Israel's behalf with a strike on Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend.

Some two dozen people were killed in Israel. The Iranian authorities say over 600 people were killed in Iran.

The status of Iran's nuclear programme is uncertain after the US strikes.

MIA file photo