Iran’s supreme leader had a rifle by his side as he addressed worshippers in Tehran in a rare public sermon Friday, days after Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his first sermon in nearly five years to thousands of worshippers at the Mosalla mosque in central Tehran.
It comes three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, triggered by the Iran-backed Palestinian group’s October 7 attack.
From the crowds, some ardent supporters outraged by a year of hostilities held portraits of slain allied leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah.
Khamenei, addressing the crowd, used the public address to say dub Hezbollah’s battle a ‘vital service to the region’, warning Israel ‘will not last long’.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivering a rare Friday sermon at a mosque in Tehran
Khamenei attends the commemoration event for Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah on Friday
The supreme leader, who wields the highest authority in Iran, spoke after ‘a commemoration ceremony’ at 10:30 am (7am GMT) for Hassan Nasrallah, the slain leader of Tehran-backed Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah.
Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah for some 30 years, was killed last week in a coordinated Israeli strike on the group’s Beirut headquarters.
Iran responded to the killing of Nasrallah, and that of Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh and Iran’s Abbas Nilforoushan last week, with a bombardment of Israel using some 200 missiles.
Tensions remain at a recent high, with Israel now weighing how to respond. Khamenei has been outspoken in repeated threats towards Israel, as the political machinery of the country has made overtures to de-escalation.
Khamenei last led Friday prayers in January 2020 after Iran fired missiles at a US army base in Iraq, in response to a strike that killed revered Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.
In Tehran on Thursday, crowds waving Hezbollah and Iran flags gathered outside the former US embassy building in Tehran to denounce Israeli ‘crimes’ in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, Iranian media reported.
Khamenei had declared public mourning in Iran for Nasrallah and on Wednesday said that the Hezbollah chief’s death was ‘not a small matter’.
Hamas, Hezbollah and other armed groups in the Middle East are part of the Iran-aligned ‘axis of resistance’ opposed to Israel and its ally the United States.
Analysts said Iran’s missile attack – its second-ever directly targeting Israel – was meant to counter a string of setbacks suffered by Tehran and its regional allies.
Iran has said this week’s attack was carried out in ‘self-defence’ and warned of ‘crushing attacks’ on Israel if it retaliated.
The Islamic republic has also warned the US – Israel’s top arms provider – against intervening, threatening ‘a harsh response’ if it did.
Washington has said Iran must suffer ‘consequences’, which may be coordinated with Israeli officials, for the ballistic missile fire.
US President Joe Biden said Thursday he was discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites.
In April Tehran had sent missiles and drones against Israel in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
In both attacks, nearly all missiles were intercepted by Israel or its allies, according to Israeli authorities.
Khamenei attends a commemoration ceremony for Hassan Nasrallah today
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
