'Israel won't last long': What Iran's Khamenei said in rare sermon amid spectre of war

Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday gave a clarion call to Muslim nations during his sermon at the Friday prayers, asking them to unite against a "common enemy".

He paid a tribute to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed during an airstrike by Israel, and praised Iran for striking back at the Jewish country with a major missile strike on Tuesday.

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Khamenei, 85, said in a 40-minute speech to thousands of people at the Mosalla mosque, the main prayer site in Tehran, that the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel nearly a year ago on October 7, 2023, was a legitimate action by the Palestinian people.

The sermon assumes signficance since it comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran following the missile attack.

Here are the key quotes from Khamenei's sermon:

* The brilliant action [missile attack] of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate.  It will be done in the future again if it becomes necessary.

* Iran will not procrastinate nor act hastily to carry out its duty in confronting Israel.

* Interference by foreign powers supporting Israel is the most pressing issue in the region.

* From Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iran to Gaza and Yemen, you must be ready to take action and unite against common “enemy”.

* The resistance against Israeli aggression has set the Zionist regime back 70 years ... it is now fighting to survive as it did at the time of its founding.

* Hezbollah’s fight against Israel is a vital service to the entire region. Israel will not last long.