'We'll defeat our enemies': Khamenei's rare sermon amid Israel crisis
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a rare Friday sermon at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran. This was his first sermon in nearly five years and came just three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The event followed a prayer ceremony for Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, who was killed in an airstrike last week.
Khamenei's sermon follows Hezbollah leader's death
Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who are under Khamenei's command, launched approximately 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday. This was in retaliation for Israel's killing of Nasrallah and Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan in a late September strike on Beirut, as well as the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Khamenei had previously led Friday prayers in January 2020, following Iran's missile attack on a United States army base in Iraq.
Tehran witnesses anti-Israel protests
On Thursday, crowds gathered outside the former US embassy building in Tehran, waving Hezbollah and Iran flags to protest against Israeli "crimes" in Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Khamenei had declared public mourning for Nasrallah, stating that his death was "not a small matter." Hamas, Hezbollah, and other armed groups in the Middle East form part of an Iran-aligned "axis of resistance" against Israel and its ally, the United States.
Iran warns of 'crushing attacks' on Israel
Iran has defended its missile attack as an act of "self-defence" and warned of "crushing attacks" on Israel if it retaliated. The Islamic republic also cautioned the US, Israel's top arms provider, against intervening and threatened "a harsh response" if it did. Meanwhile, Washington has stated that Iran must face "consequences," potentially in coordination with Israeli officials, for the ballistic missile fire.
US President discusses potential strikes on Iranian oil sites
US President Joe Biden has indicated that he is discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites. This comes after Iran launched missiles and drones against Israel in April, in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. However, according to Israeli authorities, nearly all missiles from both attacks were intercepted by Israel or its allies.
