Iran’s Khamenei delivers first public sermon in five years, vows Israel “won’t last long”
Tehran: In a rare Friday sermon, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Israel "won't last long" as he expressed strong support for Palestinian and Lebanese movements against Israel. Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters at a mosque in Tehran, Khamenei defended Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, describing them as a "public service."
With a gun placed beside him, Khamenei asserted that Israel would not prevail against Hamas or Hezbollah. The crowd responded with chants of “we are with you,” filling the mosque grounds. This sermon marked Khamenei’s first public address in five years, emphasising a show of defiance amid ongoing threats to his life.
During his speech, Khamenei praised Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the former chief of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week.
"Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is no longer with us, but his spirit and path will continue to inspire us forever. He was the high-standing flag against the Zionist enemy. His martyrdom will further increase this influence. The loss of Nasrallah is not in vain. We must stand up against the enemy while strengthening our unwavering faith," Khamenei declared.
He went on to call Hezbollah a “blessed tree” that flourished under Nasrallah's leadership. He urged Muslims to support Lebanon’s “jihad” and its battle for the al-Aqsa mosque, calling it a duty and responsibility.
Khamenei also defended the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling them the “correct move,” and claimed that no international law could question the right of the Lebanese and Palestinians to defend themselves against occupation.
"There is no doubt that the Zionists and the Americans are dreaming—the Zionist entity will be uprooted from the ground. It has no roots, it is fake, unstable, and exists only because of American support," Khamenei stated.
Khamenei's sermon comes just three days after Iran launched 180 missiles targeting critical infrastructure in Israel and three days before the first anniversary of the Israel-Gaza war. His last public sermon was delivered in January 2020 following a missile attack on a US army base in Iraq in response to the killing of top Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.
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Congress voices concern over safety of minorities in Bangladesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the "atmosphere of insecurity" being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
In a statement, Chairman of the party's Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, "The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country".
"The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example," he said.
A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.
Das, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka a day earlier.
India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Bangladesh reacted sharply to the Ministry of External Affairs statement, saying it was unfounded and stood contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
In its statement, Dhaka said it does not interfere with the country's judiciary, which is fully independent
