Iran’s Supreme Leader acclaimed Hezbollah’s resilience and urged sustained resistance efforts while condemning Israeli actions against the group during remarks released Sunday.
In statements issued in response to a Hezbollah declaration of loyalty to Iran’s Islamic Republic, the leader emphasized that “the only viable path forward remains through jihad and defiance” against the United States and Israel. He framed Hezbollah’s resistance tactics as “an exemplary model” for movements opposing what he termed “global hegemony.”
According to the texts, he reiterated a longstanding policy: Iran’s unwavering commitment to backing Hezbollah as a “core strategic priority,” a doctrine inherited from his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and upheld under his leadership.
Additional remarks noted that Iran’s willingness to negotiate with the U.S. would hinge on Israel’s cessation of military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Touching on the 2024 assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces, the leader likened Nasrallah to a “martyrdom figure,” describing him as the architect who transformed the group from “a fledgling movement into a towering pillar of resistance.” This statement underscored Nasrallah’s symbolic role in shaping Hezbollah’s ideological trajectory.
