In an extraordinary display of public attendance, thousands have congregated in Tehran for a Friday sermon delivered by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This event holds significant importance as it comes on the heels of a recent missile attack on Israel, raising questions about Iran’s future strategies.
The sermon, held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran, marks Khamenei’s first public address of this nature in nearly five years. As Iran’s highest authority, Khamenei’s words carry immense weight and are closely watched by both domestic and international audiences. The timing is particularly poignant, occurring just three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
🇮🇷 NEW:Millions of Iranians have entered Imam Khomeini’s prayer grounds in Tehran to attend the Friday prayer led by the Supreme Leader and listen to his speech#Netanyahu #Lebanon #Israels #Russia #IranAttack #Tehran #ایران #TelAviv #لبنان #WorldWar3 #تل_أبيب #Hezbollah pic.twitter.com/CmfReKDVIm
— Daniyal Khalid (@daniyalkhalid08) October 4, 2024
Visuals from the event show millions of Iranians flocking to the Imam Khomeini prayer grounds to partake in the Friday prayers led by Khamenei. The gathering underscores the collective sentiment within Iran amidst ongoing tensions in the region.
Khamenei’s sermon follows a prayer ceremony held for Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, who was recently killed in an airstrike. This context adds another layer of significance to the sermon, as it reflects Iran’s ongoing commitment to its allies in the region and its stance against perceived threats.
As the situation develops, Khamenei’s sermon is expected to provide crucial insights into Iran’s military and political direction in response to escalating conflicts, particularly concerning its relationship with Israel and its support for regional allies.
