In his first public sermon in five years, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that both the Islamic Republic’s missile strikes on Israel and Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack were “legitimate.” Speaking to thousands at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, Khamenei emphasized Iran’s right to defend itself and warned of potential retaliation against “occupied Palestine” if provoked.
He expressed support for the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah, stating, “The Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7 was a correct move. Palestinians had the right to do this.” Khamenei reiterated that Iran and its allies would unite to confront their “enemies,” framing the conflict as a struggle for the rights of Palestinian Muslims.
“The missile attacks carried out by Iran were totally legitimate,” he added, reinforcing his stance that resistance against Israel is justified in the context of regional tensions.
Khamenei also warned that Iran would attack “occupied Palestine”, while referring to Israel, again, if it was provoked. He stated that Iran had a right to defend itself and that it would respond to any attacks from the Jewish nation. He also backed the Lebanese group Hezbollah’s move to target Israel, asserting that Iran and its allies would together defeat its “enemies”.
“The Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, was a correct move. Palestinians had the right to do this. Our right to strike at the Zionist entity several days ago was totally legitimate. Hamas is fighting for the rights of Palestinian Muslims. Hezbollah is also fighting against Israel,” he told thousands of people gathered at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran.
