Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly defended the recent missile strikes on Israel, calling them “correct, logical, and lawful” in a rare and powerful speech in Tehran. Addressing a massive crowd on Friday, Khamenei described the attacks as a “minimum punishment” for what he labelled as Israel’s “astonishing crimes.”
Khamenei led the Friday prayers for the first time since 2020, marking the moment’s importance. His speech followed Iran’s launch of nearly 200 missiles at Israel, which was said to be in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The Ayatollah’s speech, partly delivered in Arabic, extended a clear message of solidarity to Palestinian and Lebanese supporters, hailing both Hamas and Hezbollah as essential forces in the region. He emphasized that these groups, aligned with Iran, are standing firm against Israel and will not retreat from the ongoing conflict that took a violent turn after Hamas’s deadly raids into Israel a year ago.
As the spiritual and political leader of Iran, Khamenei has long backed Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups that define themselves as part of the “Axis of Resistance.” Recent Israeli strikes have targeted several senior leaders of these Iran-backed groups and the Revolutionary Guards, escalating tensions in the region.
The supreme leader’s appearance in front of tens of thousands in Tehran underscores the seriousness of the situation for Iran, which has been grappling with growing domestic unrest. His presence was a calculated show of strength, asserting Iran’s leadership role in the “Axis of Resistance” and signalling that the regime remains defiant despite Israel’s provocations.
The crowded gathering at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Mosque was a spectacle of power, with a large Palestinian flag waving among attendees, many of whom had been offered free transport to the event. Khamenei used the platform to send a strong message: if Israel responds to the missile strikes, Iran is ready to retaliate.
“If we need to do it again, we will,” Khamenei warned, as tensions mount amid speculation of a potential Israeli strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure, an idea hinted at by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday.
This public appearance marks only the third time in over a decade that Khamenei has led Friday prayers—previously doing so after the U.S. killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, and before that, in 2012. Iran continues to feel the ripple effects of losing key allies in its regional struggle, including Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, whose assassination in Tehran this past July has been widely attributed to Israel.
As the conflict escalates, Iran remains committed to its role in the struggle against Israel, with Khamenei standing firm on the nation’s position and prepared for future confrontations.
For the latest news and updates, visit TTNBC regularly.
ARY NEWS, CNN, BBC NEWS, DAWN NEWS
