Iranian supreme leader says Hamas, Hezbollah resistance signifies Israel's defeat

Khamenei dismisses claims that Hezbollah has been weakened following the loss of its leaders

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that the ongoing resistance of Hamas and Hezbollah signifies a defeat for Israel.

Speaking at a gathering of the Assembly of Experts on Thursday, Khamenei asserted that Israel's attempts to eliminate Hamas have only revealed its "ugly face" to the world, resulting in self-condemnation and isolation.

Khamenei highlighted that despite Israel's efforts to silence Palestinian resistance through the assassination of key leaders, the continued fighting of Hamas indicates a loss for the "Zionist regime."

He referenced the recent deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut as pivotal moments but insisted that Hezbollah remains robust.

The Iranian leader noted that for nearly 40 years, Hezbollah has pushed Israel back from Lebanese territories, evolving from a small group of fighters into a significant military organization capable of challenging a heavily supported adversary.

Khamenei dismissed claims that Hezbollah has been weakened following the loss of its leaders, stating, “They are wrong, they are delusional, Hezbollah is strong and is fighting.” He expressed confidence in the group's ability to withstand external pressures.

These comments come amid heightened tensions following Israeli air raids in Iran on October 26, which Khamenei vowed would provoke a “tooth-crushing response” from Iran and its allies.

In the context of rising military activity, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched operations against the Jaish al-Adl armed separatist group in southeastern Iran, which it links to Israel. This escalation follows the killing of Iranian armed forces members by Jaish al-Adl.

Amid these developments, Iranian officials indicated that they have prepared for the potential re-election of Donald Trump as US president, asserting that the overall policies between the US and the Islamic Republic remain unchanged regardless of the presidency.

Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that Trump’s re-election would not significantly impact the livelihoods of Iranians, despite the rial experiencing a decline to over 700,000 against the US dollar following his victory in the past.