Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issues warning to Israel in his first Friday sermon in five years
The primary focus of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s first Friday sermon in five years was on appearances rather than just criticizing its main enemy, Israel. In addition to selecting the iconic Imam Khomeini Mosque, Khamenei, who selected the mosque due to its significance in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, was observed brandishing a Dragunov rifle made in Russia while speaking to a large crowd of Iranians.
The sight of the 85-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader standing alongside a rifle served as a message of deterrence, showing Khamenei’s resolve that Iran would not yield to Israeli aggression. Khamenei warned that Israel won’t survive long and stated we need to defend against the enemy while reinforcing our steadfast faith.
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Khamenei used a public appearance to boost the morale of Iran’s military and the nation following a series of setbacks, primarily in Arabic but also in Farsi.
Iran and Israel were already experiencing increased tensions after the deaths of Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and top Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Abbas Nilforoushan.
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The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist group supported by Iran, sparked a serious increase in tensions as Tehran fired 200 missiles at Tel Aviv, pushing the two countries to the edge of war.
Khamenei also attempted to provide a rationale for Iran’s biggest missile strike on Israel. He stated that the action of our military was the minimum retaliation for the wrongdoings of the Zionist government.
