Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has expressed his commitment to continue supporting Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant group in Lebanon.
On July 26, the office of the Supreme Leader reported that Khamenei stated in a letter to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem and its commanders and fighters, "Protecting Hezbollah is a strategic policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Khamenei praised Hezbollah for standing at the forefront of resistance against Israel and its allies, and he expressed gratitude to the Lebanese people and residents of southern Lebanon for their support.
He asserted that Lebanon's territorial integrity must be fully preserved and that Israeli attacks should be completely and unconditionally halted. He emphasized that such conditions should be included in any future agreements to end conflicts.
Criticizing the United States and Israel, Khamenei stated, "There is no other path but armed struggle and resistance."
This letter was a response to a message of support from Hezbollah's leadership, including Naim Qassem, following Khamenei's ascension as Supreme Leader.
Khamenei's remarks come amid U.S. and Israeli calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which has grown into a prominent Iran-backed militant force in the Middle East but has suffered significant losses in leadership and military strength during recent clashes with Israel.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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