Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is set to lead Friday prayers for the first time in nearly five years, following a missile attack on Israel. The rare sermon comes just days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, which was triggered by the October 7 attack by the Iran-backed Palestinian group. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s sermon will be delivered at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, where he is expected to outline Iran’s future stance on the escalating conflict.
This Friday prayer marks a significant moment in Iran’s political and religious landscape, as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rarely leads such events. The timing coincides with increasing tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as a commemorative ceremony for Hassan Nasrallah, the slain leader of Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group. Nasrallah was killed alongside Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Iranian Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan, in Israeli strikes in Beirut and Tehran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have stated that their recent missile attack on Israel was in retaliation for these deaths, with some 200 missiles launched toward Israel. This marked Iran’s second-ever direct missile assault on Israel. The Revolutionary Guards, who report directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have positioned the strike as an act of self-defense, warning of further retaliatory measures should Israel respond. Iran also cautioned the United States, Israel’s primary military ally, against any intervention, threatening a “harsh response” if American forces were involved.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last led Friday prayers in January 2020, shortly after Iran launched missile strikes on a U.S. base in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani, a revered Iranian military commander. His return to the pulpit now highlights the significance of the current situation.
In Tehran, anti-Israel sentiment continues to rise, with crowds gathering outside the former U.S. embassy on Thursday, waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags to protest Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Iranian media reported the demonstrations, as mourners expressed their anger over the deaths of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
As tensions escalate, U.S. President Joe Biden has indicated that Washington is considering potential consequences for Iran’s missile strike, including possible coordination with Israeli officials on retaliatory actions. The missile exchange underscores the growing conflict between Iran, Israel, and their respective allies in the region, with both sides preparing for further confrontation.
