Ayatollah Khamenei Returns to Pulpit After 5 Years

New Delhi : In a rare public appearance, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei led Friday prayers at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque. This marked his first time delivering the sermon in nearly five years.

Hundreds of thousands attended the prayers, attentively listening to his sermon while chanting religious, pro-Iran, and pro-Khamenei slogans. The occasion was a commemoration ceremony honoring the late Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was recently killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, along with Iranian General Abbas Nilforushan.

The event’s significance was underscored by the presence of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei.

In his address, Khamenei focused on the need for unity among Muslim nations in the face of common threats. He stressed that Iran’s enemies, such as Israel and the United States, are also adversaries to other Muslim countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, as reported by media agencies.

Khamenei’s sermon emphasized solidarity as the key to overcoming these shared adversaries. He cited recent events, such as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,’ describing it as a legitimate and lawful action by Palestinians in their resistance to Israeli aggression. He condemned Israeli violence, asserting that every nation has the right to defend its territory and people.

He praised Hezbollah’s defense of Gaza, describing it as a critical service to the Islamic world, and called on Muslims globally to support Lebanon in its resistance against Israel. In a scathing attack, he referred to Israel as a “vampire regime” and the US as a “rabid dog” in the region, reaffirming Iran’s strong stance against both nations.

Khamenei also reflected on the legacy of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, urging the people of Lebanon to remain united and resilient despite the loss of key leaders like Nasrallah, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, and Imam Musa al-Sadr. He encouraged them to strengthen their faith and continue their resistance against aggression.

The sermon came just days after Iran retaliated against Israel by launching ballistic missiles in response to Nasrallah’s assassination. Khamenei described these actions as not only justified but necessary, calling them the “minimum punishment” for Israel’s “astonishing crimes.” He warned that Iran would not hesitate to take further action if provoked.

The Friday prayers also took place ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, a conflict that has significantly altered regional dynamics and deepened divisions.