In an early morning message local time, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the "punishment" of Israel will continue. "The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" Trump added of the strikes. Khamenei did not mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his statement.

Iran defended its right to self-defense, as President Trump doubled down on the claim that the strikes had caused “monumental damage” to Iranian nuclear sites.