Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly defended his country’s missile strikes on Israel, calling them “correct, logical, and lawful” during a rare public sermon in Tehran. Addressing a vast crowd of tens of thousands on Friday, Khamenei described the strikes as the “minimum punishment” for what he called Israel’s “astonishing crimes,” including the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The missile strikes, which took place three days prior, involved nearly 200 missiles being launched at Israeli targets in what Iran said was direct retaliation for Nasrallah’s death. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah leader was reportedly assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, sparking a fresh wave of regional tensions.
Khamenei’s address, his first public Friday prayer sermon since 2020, marked a significant moment for the Iranian regime. Speaking with a mixture of defiance and religious fervor, the supreme leader sought to bolster Iran’s standing among its regional allies and signal to adversaries that Iran is prepared to escalate its military actions if necessary.
Khamenei’s speech was delivered partly in Arabic, an unusual move aimed at addressing Iran’s Palestinian and Lebanese allies directly. His words resonated with members of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iran-backed militant groups in the region, all of whom have long viewed Iran as the cornerstone of their resistance against Israel.
In his sermon, Khamenei lauded the late Nasrallah for his leadership of Hezbollah, describing him as a martyr for the Islamic cause. He also extended support to Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization, and Hezbollah, praising their resilience in the fight against Israeli forces. These groups, which Khamenei described as providing a “vital service to the entire region and the entire Islamic world,” have been key actors in Iran’s broader regional strategy of challenging Israeli influence.
Iran’s involvement in supporting militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas has been well-documented, with the country providing arms, financial backing, and strategic support for years. These groups, along with other militias operating in countries like Iraq and Syria, have formed what is often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance,” a coalition united by their opposition to Israel and the broader influence of the United States in the region.
“The armed groups aligned with us will not back down,” Khamenei declared, in a statement that could be seen as a message to both Israel and the broader international community. “They will not cease their resistance until their goals are achieved.”
He emphasized that the conflict with Israel had entered a new phase, referencing the Hamas-led raids into Israeli territory that took place nearly a year ago. These raids, which resulted in the deaths of Israeli civilians and soldiers, led to a sharp escalation in hostilities between Israel and Gaza-based militants.
Khamenei’s speech comes at a time of heightened regional volatility, with several senior leaders of Iran-aligned groups and military figures having been killed in recent weeks. In addition to Nasrallah’s assassination, other Iranian-backed leaders have been targeted by Israeli strikes, a campaign widely attributed to Israel’s effort to dismantle the leadership of Iran’s regional allies.
Notably, Iran has also lost prominent figures such as Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who was assassinated in Tehran in July. Though Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing, many experts view it as part of a broader Israeli strategy to cripple the operational capabilities of Iran-backed militant organizations.
For Iran, the loss of these key figures represents a major blow to its influence and proxy warfare capabilities. Nevertheless, Khamenei’s speech indicated that Tehran is prepared to retaliate forcefully in response to these assassinations, positioning itself as the defender of its regional allies.
The missile strikes on Israel serve as a stark reminder of Iran’s capability to project military power across the region. Khamenei’s defiant tone in Friday’s sermon suggests that the regime sees these strikes as just the beginning of a larger campaign aimed at preserving its influence and punishing those responsible for the recent assassinations.
“If we need to do that again, we will do it again,” Khamenei told the crowd, making it clear that further military action remains on the table if Israel continues its campaign of targeted killings.
Khamenei’s decision to lead Friday prayers, an event he has not done since 2020, is being interpreted as a strategic move to project strength both domestically and internationally. His last public Friday sermon took place in the aftermath of the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, a moment that also saw a surge in regional tensions and calls for Iranian retaliation.
This time, Khamenei’s sermon took place in the Grand Mosalla Mosque in central Tehran, where a large Palestinian flag was prominently displayed in the crowd. The gathering drew tens of thousands of Iranians, many of whom were provided with free transportation to attend the sermon. This deliberate mobilization effort by the Iranian government underscores the importance of the event for the regime, which has been facing significant internal pressures in recent months.
Widespread protests and growing discontent over economic hardship and political repression have placed the Iranian government under increasing strain. Khamenei’s public appearance may have been intended to rally his supporters and reinforce his image as the ultimate authority in Iran, capable of guiding the country through its challenges both at home and abroad.
By addressing both his domestic audience and regional allies, Khamenei sought to remind the international community that Iran remains a formidable player in Middle Eastern politics, despite the setbacks it has faced.
The missile strikes on Israel have placed the country in a precarious position, with Israeli leaders weighing how to respond to the latest escalation. While Israel has maintained a policy of ambiguity regarding its involvement in the assassinations of Nasrallah, Haniyeh, and other senior figures, the country is widely believed to be behind the targeted killings.
In response to Iran’s missile attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for restraint while also vowing that Israel will not tolerate any further attacks on its territory. The Israeli military has been placed on high alert, with analysts suggesting that retaliatory strikes on Iranian assets, potentially including oil infrastructure, are under serious consideration.
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden revealed that discussions about a potential Israeli strike on Iranian oil facilities had taken place, indicating that the U.S. is closely involved in Israel’s strategic planning. While Biden has emphasized the need for caution, the U.S. has consistently supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Iranian aggression.
The situation remains tense, with the possibility of further escalation looming on the horizon. Any retaliatory action by Israel is likely to prompt a fresh wave of violence, drawing in regional actors and further complicating an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
The current standoff between Iran and Israel, exacerbated by the assassination of Nasrallah and the subsequent missile strikes, represents one of the most serious flashpoints in the Middle East in recent years. The involvement of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militant groups has turned the conflict into a multi-layered proxy war, with both sides demonstrating a willingness to use military force to achieve their objectives.
For Iran, its backing of groups like Hezbollah and Hamas is central to its broader strategy of countering Israeli influence and asserting itself as a dominant power in the region. However, the loss of key figures like Nasrallah and Haniyeh poses a significant challenge to Iran’s ability to coordinate its proxy forces effectively.
The Israeli government, meanwhile, faces a complex set of decisions about how to respond to Iran’s aggression without sparking a broader regional conflict. Any miscalculation could lead to a full-scale war, drawing in neighboring countries and potentially involving global powers like the U.S. and Russia.
As the region waits to see what happens next, the world watches closely, aware that the outcome of this latest chapter in the Iran-Israel conflict could have far-reaching consequences for global stability.
Khamenei’s defense of the missile strikes on Israel and his rallying cry to the Axis of Resistance signals that Iran is prepared for a prolonged confrontation with its enemies. As the dust settles from this latest round of hostilities, the potential for further violence looms large, with both Iran and Israel standing at a critical juncture in their long-standing conflict.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts likely to play a crucial role in determining whether the region can avoid further escalation. However, as Khamenei’s sermon made clear, Iran is unlikely to back down anytime soon, setting the stage for a prolonged and dangerous standoff.
