In a rare public appearance amid the escalating crisis in the Middle East, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led the Friday prayers in Tehran.
Urging Muslim nations to "fasten the seatbelt" , Khamenei led the prayers, the first time in five years. He 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 Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport.
"We must defeat common enemy. Every country has right to defend itself from aggressors," Khamenei said. According to him, enemy of Iran is the enemy of Palestine.
Khamenei said the enemy of Iran is the enemy of Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen. “The enemy is working everywhere with a special method, but the operations room is the same and they take orders from there. If the enemy is relieved of one country, he will go to the next country,” he said.
Khamenei stressed that the Islamic Republic's missile attacks on Israel was "legal" and that Hamas attacking the Jewish nation on October 7 last year was also "legitimate". He said Iran would foil all its enemies, in the wake of war-like conditions with Israel. “The operation of our armed forces a few nights ago was totally legal and legitimate,” he said.
Thousands of Iranians gathered to attend the prayers in a grand show of strength as the country faces an imminent threat from Israel after it launched a bold missile strike on Tel Aviv on Tuesday. He led the prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran, according to reports.
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Khamenei was reportedly taken to a safe location ever since an Israeli strike eliminated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
On Nasrallah
This prayer will be followed by a commemoration ceremony for Nasrallah. "Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is no longer with us, but his spirit and his path will continue to inspire us forever. He was the high standing flag against the Zionist enemy. His martyrdom will further increase this influence. The loss of Nasrallah is not in vain. We must stand up against the enemy while strengthening our unwavering faith," Khamenei told the gathering.
Khamenei also called Hezbollah a "blessed tree" that grew steadily under the leadership of Nasrallah.
Khamenei was not seen in public for the last few days, amid fears that Israel may try to target some of the top Iranian leaders in retaliation to the missile attack. This week, the Iranian missile strike on Israel involved nearly 200 ballistic missiles and was described as retaliation for the deaths of Nasrallah and other key figures linked to Iran.
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