“If he had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Katz told Channel 13 as quoted by The Times of Israel.

He claimed the armed forces 'searched' for Khamenei, but the operational opportunity did not arise.

Iran Claims Victory Over US Regime

Iran on Thursday claimed victory over the "US regime," stating that it had delivered a "heavy slap" to the country’s face with airstrikes on Al Udeid air base in Qatar.

In a series of posts on X after the ceasefire with Israel, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei said: "My congratulations on our dear Iran’s victory over the US regime. The US regime entered the war directly because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. It entered the war in an effort to save that regime but achieved nothing."

The ceasefire followed the US strike on three nuclear sites in Iran and then Tehran's retaliatory attack at a US base in Qatar.

"The Islamic Republic delivered a heavy slap to the US’s face. It attacked and inflicted damage on the Al-Udeid Air Base, which is one of the key US bases in the region," Khamenei said.

Khamenei said Iran will never surrender to the US and any future aggression would come at a great cost.

"The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter. Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price," he said.

Slamming Donald Trump, Khamenei said: "The US President stated, "Iran must surrender." Needless to say, this statement is too big to come out of the US president's mouth."

The Iranian leader had been hiding in a bunker after Israel stepped up its attack.

In a surprise move, the US joined the war on Saturday, launching B2 bombers that struck three key nuclear bases in Iran. The US named this offensive Operation Midnight Hammer.

Iran responded by striking the US base in Qatar after a warning that enabled the US to ensure zero casualties and minimal damage.

Trump decided not to respond, and hours later, announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.