Ali Khamenei Says Iran Will Attack Israel Again If Necessary

The leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran praised the IRGC's missile attack on Israeli territory on October 1, stating that such actions would be 'repeated' in the future if necessary. Ali Khamenei, speaking during the Friday prayers on October 13 in Tehran, called the missile attack a 'brilliant work of the armed forces' and asserted that it was a 'completely legal and legitimate' action. He added, 'What our armed forces did was the least they could do against Israel. We neither delay nor rush in fulfilling this duty. What is logical and reasonable, according to the military and political decision-makers, will be done in due time, and if necessary, it will be done again in the future.' This was Khamenei's second public appearance following the missile attacks on Israel, during which approximately 200 missiles were fired into the country. Iran claims that this attack was in 'retaliation' for the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Abbas Nilforushan, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria, and Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of Hamas's political bureau. At the beginning of his speech, Khamenei stated, 'Today, my main message is to my Lebanese and Palestinian brothers. The defensive rulings of Islam have clarified our duties. No one has the right under international law to criticize Hezbollah for defending the people of Gaza.' Khamenei defended Hamas's attack on Israeli territory during the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' operation that took place on October 7 last year, calling it a 'legal and international move' and asserting that 'the right was with the Palestinians' in this action. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The United States also considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization, while the European Union has placed its military wing on its blacklist but does not classify its political wing as terrorist. The political wing of Hezbollah has representatives in the Lebanese parliament. Khamenei further stated, 'Not only does no court or international organization have the right to criticize the Palestinian people for defending their country, but countries and groups like Hezbollah that assist the Palestinians in 'fulfilling their duty' are also acting 'legitimately.' The second part of Khamenei's Friday sermon was delivered in Arabic, where he promised the Palestinian and Lebanese people 'reconstruction of the destruction,' 'victory of the resistance,' and 'defeat of Israel.'