Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Iran and its allies would not back down in the face of Israeli aggression. Addressing a massive crowd during Friday prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, Khamenei justified Iran's recent missile strikes on Israel, describing them as "correct, logical, and lawful." The strikes, which involved nearly 200 ballistic missiles, were launched in retaliation for Israel's killing of senior leaders from Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Khamenei's speech marked his first public sermon in more than four years and came at a time of heightened tensions in the region. The Iranian missile strikes followed Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, along with other key figures in Lebanon. Khamenei made it clear that despite these losses, the resistance movement led by Iran and its regional allies would not waver. "The resistance in the region will not back down even with the killing of its leaders," Khamenei said. He emphasized that Iran's retaliation was both "legal and legitimate."
The timing of Khamenei's sermon was significant, as it took place just before the one-year anniversary of Hamas's deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, which triggered a broader conflict that has since spread to Lebanon. As regional violence continues to escalate, Iran's "axis of resistance"-a coalition of Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and various Iraqi armed groups-has increasingly engaged in military actions in support of the Palestinian cause.
During the sermon, Khamenei called for unity among Muslim nations, urging them to stand together against Israel, which he referred to as a common "enemy." He argued that Israel has waged "psychological, economic, and military warfare" across the Muslim world, sowing division in countries as part of a larger strategy to expand its control. "Our enemy is one," he said. "If their policies are sowing the seeds of division in one country, they may prevail and once they seize control of one country, they move to the other."
Khamenei's speech also countered the perception that Iran had isolated itself in recent years. "He is focused on unity," noted Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran. "His speech was delivered at a delicate and intense time," Serdar said, highlighting that Khamenei's call for solidarity among Muslim nations came as the prospect of a broader regional war looms.
The sermon was attended by tens of thousands of Iranians, many of whom were provided free transportation to the mosque. A large Palestinian flag was seen in the crowd as Khamenei addressed his supporters, including sections of his sermon delivered in Arabic to directly reach Iran's Palestinian and Lebanese allies. His public appearance was intended not only to show strength but to dispel rumors that he had gone into hiding following the recent assassination of Nasrallah, one of Iran's closest allies.
Khamenei's address followed a week of escalated military actions between Israel and its adversaries. On Tuesday, Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, expanding its military campaign after repeated airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut. Iran responded with missile strikes aimed at Israel, the second such attack this year, and warned of further retaliation if Israeli aggression continued. Tehran has also issued a stark warning to the United States, with an unnamed Iranian official telling Al Jazeera that any Israeli attack on Iran would be met with an "unconventional response," including attacks on critical infrastructure.
The stakes in the conflict continue to rise. U.S. President Joe Biden hinted on Thursday that Israel could target Iran's oil facilities in retaliation for this week's missile barrage, a possibility that Khamenei acknowledged in his sermon. "If we needed to do that again, we would do it again in the future," Khamenei said, indicating that Iran would not hesitate to strike back if provoked by Israel or its allies.
The supreme leader's message, delivered to a nation facing both regional conflict and internal discontent, was one of defiance and resilience. As Khamenei reiterated Iran's commitment to supporting its allies in the fight against Israel, he also called for a measured response, stating that Iran would "not act irrationally" or "impulsively" but would follow a considered approach guided by the country's political and military leadership.
