Iran’s Supreme Leader Vows to Punish Israel Again if Necessary

Iran’s Supreme Leader Warns of More Strikes Against Israel.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern warning to Israel, labeling the recent Iranian attack as merely the “least punishment” and vowing to strike again if necessary. This comes after Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others.

Khamenei delivered his remarks during a Friday speech in Tehran, where he led Islamic Friday prayers for the first time in nearly five years. The last time he did so was to commemorate the death of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was killed by the US in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport.

In his speech, Khamenei praised Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, describing it as “legitimate,” and emphasized that “Israel will never defeat Hamas and Hezbollah.” He also stressed that the people of Palestine have the right to defend themselves against Israel, which he views as an enemy occupying their land.

The recent attack on Israel is part of a larger conflict between Iran and Israel, which has been escalating since April 2024. The conflict has seen multiple exchanges of strikes, including Iran’s launch of 181 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel on October 1, 2024.