Ayatollah Khamenei returns to pulpit after 5 years

New Delhi, Oct 4: In a rare public appearance, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei delivered Friday prayers at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque, his first time leading the congregation in nearly five years.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the prayers and listened to his sermons attentively while raising religious, pro-Iran, and pro-Khamenei slogans.

The occasion was a commemoration ceremony honouring the late Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut alongside Iranian General Abbas Nilforushan.

Several high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, were present at the ceremony, marking the importance of the occasion.

Khamenei’s address centered on the unity of Muslim nations and the common threats they face.

He emphasised that the enemies of Iran like Israel and the United States are also the enemies of other Muslim countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, media news agencies reported.

His sermon stressed that only through solidarity can these nations overcome their adversaries.

He referred to recent events such as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’, which he described as a legitimate and legal action by Palestinians in their fight against Israeli aggression.

Condemning the violence perpetrated by Israel, Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that every nation has the right to defend its territory and people.

He described Hezbollah’s defence of Gaza as an essential service to the Islamic world, urging Muslims globally to support Lebanon in its resistance against Israel.

He further called Israel a “vampire regime” and the US a “rabid dog” in the region, reiterating Iran’s firm stance against these powers.

The Supreme Leader also took a moment to reflect on the legacy of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, urging the people of Lebanon to remain steadfast and united despite the loss of prominent leaders like Nasrallah, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, and Imam Musa al-Sadr.

He conveyed a message of resilience, encouraging the Lebanese to strengthen their faith, resist aggression, and increase their efforts in the ongoing fight against their enemies.

Khamenei’s speech came just days after Iran retaliated against Israel by launching ballistic missiles in response to the assassinations of Nasrallah.

In his sermon, he emphasised that any actions taken against Israel were not only justified but necessary, describing them as the “minimum punishment” for Israel’s “astonishing crimes”.

He reiterated that Iran would not hesitate to take further action if needed.

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