Missile attack 'minimum punishment' for Israel crimes, says Iran's supreme leader Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a rare appearance on Friday, said that Tuesday's missile attack is the minimum punishment for Israel's “astonishing crimes”.

In his first part of speech, which he delivered in Persian, he emphasised the “unity” of Muslims around the world based on the principles of the Islamic holy book, Quran.

"The operation of our armed forces a few nights ago was totally legal and legitimate," he said.


The Iranian Supreme Leader said that his country would not "procrastinate or rush to carry out its duty" in confronting Israel. "The brilliant action of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate," he said, referring to Iran's missile attack on Israel.

"Israel a vampire regime, US a rabid dog"

He called Israel a “vampire” regime and the US a “rabid dog” in the region. He says the Islamic Republic will carry out “any related duties” against Israel with “strength and fortitude”.

Khamenei delivered the sermon -- his first in nearly five years - to thousands of worshippers carrying portraits of slain leaders of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States. It came three days before the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel that triggered the current regional war.

It also comes three days after Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel in retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as that of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

The last time Khamenei delivered Friday prayers was after the US assassinated the Revolutionary Guard general, Qassem Soleimani, in 2020.