Iran’s Leader Justifies Strikes on Israel in Uncommon Public Address

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the country’s missile strikes on Israel “correct, logical, and lawful” during a rare public speech in Tehran on Friday. Addressing a massive crowd, Khamenei referred to the strikes as the “minimum punishment” for Israel’s “astonishing crimes.” The attack, which occurred three days earlier, involved nearly 200 missiles launched in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Khamenei, who last led Friday prayers in 2020, also addressed Palestinian and Lebanese supporters in Arabic during his speech.

During his sermon, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and expressed strong support for Hamas and Hezbollah, describing them as providing a “vital service to the entire region and the Islamic world.” He emphasized that Iran-aligned groups would not back down in their ongoing conflict with Israel, which intensified after Hamas’s deadly raids nearly a year ago.

As the primary backer of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militant factions, Iran continues to bolster what they call the “Axis of Resistance.” In recent weeks, several senior figures in these Iran-backed groups, along with key members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, have been targeted in Israeli strikes or suspected assassinations.

Khamenei’s public appearance before tens of thousands in Tehran was a demonstration of strength amid growing domestic unrest, and an effort to reaffirm Iran’s leadership of the “Axis of Resistance.” His appearance also aimed to dispel rumors that he had gone into hiding following Nasrallah’s assassination.

The Grand Mosalla Mosque was packed as Iranians were given free transport to attend Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s sermon. A large Palestinian flag was visible among the crowd. Despite holding ultimate authority in Iran, Khamenei rarely leads Friday prayers—his last appearance was in 2020 following the US assassination of Iran’s top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, and prior to that in 2012.

Iran is still grappling with the loss of key allies, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July. Although Israel is widely believed to be responsible for Haniyeh’s killing, it has not officially commented.

Khamenei warned the crowd that Iran would retaliate if Israel responds to the recent missile strike. He asserted, “If we needed to do that again, we would do it again.” Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden suggested on Thursday that a potential Israeli strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure was being discussed, as Israel considers how to respond to Tehran’s actions.