Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday pledged to "foil the enemy's plans" in an address to the nation amid escalating tensions with its arch-rival Israel. Khameini said all Muslims country have a "common enemy" as hundreds mourned assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Tehran.
Khamenei said Muslim nations have to strap the "belt of defence" from Afghanistan to Yemen, from Iran to Gaza and Lebanon and asserted that every country has a right to defend itself from aggressors. He said Iran would neither delay nor rush to respond to Israel.
Hamas' October 7 attacks 'legitimate': Khamenei
The 85-year-old Khamenei also remarked that Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel were "legitimate", as was Iran's missile attack on Tuesday that was largely considered ineffective but raised fears of an all-out war in the region. "The brilliant action of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate," he said.
He also accused Israel of 'pretending' to win over its conflicts by assassinations and civilian killings, but its recent behaviour had only increased anger and strengthened the motive of Tehran's so-called 'Axis of Resistance'. The Iranian Supreme Leader also targeted the United States, accusing it of protecting Israel under the pretext of seizing the region's resources.
Khamenei also spoke of a broader plan to make Israel a gate for energy exports from the Middle East to Europe, but asserted that its arch-rival will "never be victorious" over Hezbollah and Hamas. He also told fighters in Lebanon that the bloodshed should not weaken their strength and the resistance forces in the region will not back down against Israeli aggression..
Israel weighing options for retaliatory attack on Israel
Khamenei's remarks came after Iran fired over 180 missiles in its largest-ever attack on Israel, in retaliation for Israeli strikes targeting Tehran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is currently weighing its options for a retaliatory attack on Israel, with speculation building on a possible strike at Tehran's oil facilities.
Reports suggested that Khamenei personally ordered the strike on Israel after the Iran-backed Hezbollah suffered heavy losses to the Israeli campaign in Lebanon. Following Nasrallah's death, Khamenei was moved to a secure location. Khamenei expressed grief over Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's killing and added that his death is deeply felt, terming it a major event.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that its arch-foe Iran would pay for its missile attack against Israel on Tuesday and the US expressed full backing for its longtime ally. "Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it," Netanyahu said at the outset of a political-security meeting, according to a statement.
Concerns rise over possible war
US President Joe Biden said he did not believe there is going to be an "all-out war" in the Middle East even as other countries have called for restraint and de-escalation to avoid a full-fledged war. A US official said Washington did not believe Israel had decided yet how to respond to Iran.
The Group of Seven nations, which includes the US, Britain and allies, on Thursday condemned Iran's missile attack on Tuesday and reaffirmed their commitment to Israel's security. But the group also called for restraint, a ceasefire in Gaza and a halt to hostilities in Lebanon. "A dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks fuelling an uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East, which is in no one's interest," it said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking in Doha, said Tehran would be ready to respond and warned against "silence" in the face of Israel's "warmongering". "Any type of military attack, terrorist act or crossing our red lines will be met with a decisive response by our armed forces," he said.
(with inputs from agencies)
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