Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared on Sunday that Israel had suffered a defeat in its war against the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group, Hamas. Khamenei made this statement during a speech at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace force center in Tehran, where he criticized Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
Since October 7, Israel has been conducting airstrikes and ground invasions in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. However, the Hamas government claims that over 12,300 people, including more than 5,000 children, have been killed as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion.
Khamenei argued that Israel’s failure to achieve its goal of destroying Hamas despite its massive bombings indicated its incapacity. He further criticized the United States and Western countries for supporting Israel, claiming that their inability to secure victory for Israel reflected their own weaknesses.
Iran, a staunch financial and military supporter of Hamas, hailed the October 7 attacks as a success but denied any direct involvement. The country has long made support for the Palestinian cause a central component of its foreign policy since the Islamic revolution in 1979.
During his visit to the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace force center, Khamenei unveiled new defense systems and drones. He inspected a drone named “Gaza,” symbolizing Iran’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. Additionally, the force showcased an upgraded version of the hypersonic missile, Fattah 2, which was initially unveiled in June.
Khamenei called on Muslim countries with formal relations with Israel to sever ties and cease trade. He expressed his disappointment with Islamic governments that had not yet condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, stating that such behavior was unacceptable.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech emphasized Iran’s support for Hamas and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted what he perceived as Israel’s defeat and called on Muslim countries to take a stronger stance against Israel.
