TEHRAN — One day after a cease-fire with the United States took effect, Iran’s leadership on Wednesday proclaimed a historic victory born of national sacrifice and resilience, even as senior officials warned that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon would be treated as an assault on Iran itself — a threat that could quickly unravel the truce.

The war erupted on Feb. 28 after a coordinated U.S. Israeli campaign that included the assassination and martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader, along with several top commanders. Over more than a month of fighting, Iran absorbed heavy losses in civilian areas while also inflicting significant blows on enemy positions, fundamentally reshaping the strategic balance in the region, according to Iranian officials.

‘The fruit of the blood of our martyred leader’

President Masoud Pezeshkian described the ceasefire as “the fruit of unity and sacrifice,” saying it reflected both the will of the Iranian people and the enduring legacy of the martyred leader.
“The ceasefire is the fruit of the blood of our martyred leader and the achievement of the presence of all the people on the scene,” Pezeshkian said, adding that national solidarity across diplomatic, military and social fronts had been the decisive factor in ending the war. “From today onward, we will continue to stand side by side. Our unity is a victory.”

Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref called the past 40 days a defining chapter in modern Iranian history. While confirming that Iran would take part in upcoming negotiations in Islamabad, he stressed that Tehran would enter the talks with “absolute pessimism” about American intentions.

“The enemy believed that by removing a great leader, they could bring an end to this path,” Aref said. “But the Iranian nation showed that this path is rooted in faith, unity, and resistance. The calculations of the enemy have been disrupted.”

‘A clear Strategic defeat’ for Washington

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the leader, described Washington’s acceptance of the cease fire as “a clear strategic defeat.” He emphasized that Iran’s armed forces remained on full alert, warning that any violation of the truce would be met with a “decisive and deterrent response.”
Velayati framed the outcome within a broader global transformation, asserting that in the emerging multipolar world, Iran was no longer merely a state but “an axis of power” shaping new geopolitical realities.

‘Finger on the trigger’

In a post on X on Wednesday, Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, said that after “retreating three times, the bully US President Trump was finally forced to accept Iran’s 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations.” He credited the resistance of the Iranian people, the bravery of the armed forces, and the guidance of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the new leader.
“Nevertheless,” Rezaei added, “the armed forces’ fingers are on the trigger to ensure that the country’s interests are fully secured.”

‘True victory lies in vigilance’

The theme of continued readiness was echoed by Mohammad Mokhber, a senior adviser to the leader. In remarks, he said that true victory lay in vigilance. Citing a few factors, the wisdom and guidance of the leader, the sacrifice and courage of the armed forces, and the dignity of the Iranian people, he said these elements had placed “global arrogance” in such a condition.
Mokhber affirmed that the Islamic Republic's strategy remains steadfast, emphasizing the continued presence of the people and the active engagement of the armed forces under the commander-in-chief's direction. He concluded that vigilance is key to true victory.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon: ‘An attack on Iran’

Even as the ceasefire with Washington held, a new flashpoint emerged. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, declared that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon,  despite the ceasefire agreement, constituted a clear violation of commitments and should be regarded as an attack on Iran itself.

Speaking to the Mehr News Agency,  Boroujerdi noted that the 10-point ceasefire text explicitly stated that none of the countries in the “resistance axis” should be targeted. “The Zionist regime’s recent action in striking Lebanon shows its complete disregard for its obligations and the rules of the ceasefire,” he said.

He called for a decisive response, stating that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council must make the necessary decisions. “Any action — political, propaganda or even military — should be taken in defense of the resistance and in support of Lebanon’s Hezbollah,” he emphasized.

 Boroujerdi added that other resistance axis countries, including Yemen and Iraq, should also take measures to defend the Lebanese people. Referring to recent attacks on infrastructure and various areas of Lebanon, including the capital, he said the Lebanese army must act to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Commenting on an assassination attempt against Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Boroujerdi said: “These actions show that the Zionist regime recognizes no boundaries or red lines. Such behavior, more than anything, reflects the regime’s defeat in the court of public opinion — even within the occupied territories and among Israel’s own internal parties.”

As the dust of war begins to settle, the dominant narrative inside Iran is one of defiant unity. But with Israeli strikes continuing on Lebanon and Tehran vowing to treat them as attacks on Iranian soil, the ceasefire remains dangerously fragile — and the region is watching closely.

Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that the ceasefire does not mark the end of confrontation but rather a shift in the battlefield — from military engagement to a diplomatic struggle. The upcoming negotiations, mediated by Pakistan and scheduled for Islamabad, are expected to focus on Iran’s proposed framework, including sanctions relief, regional security arrangements, and guarantees of non-aggression.