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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Himanta resigns as Assam CM, paving way for formation of new govt
Guwahati (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday resigned along with his cabinet colleagues, paving the way for formation of a new government led by the BJP, officials said.
The BJP-led NDA bagged 102 seats in the 126-member assembly. The assembly elections were held in a single phase on April 9, and counting of votes took place on May 4.
"Following the formal notification of the results of #AssamElections2026 and to enable the formation of the new government, Dr @himantabiswa tendered his resignation as Chief Minister along with that of the council of Ministers to Hon'ble Governor Shri @Laxmanacharya54 today at Lok Bhawan," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X.
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The Governor has accepted the resignation, and requested Sarma to continue as the caretaker CM till the new government assumes office, it said.
Later, speaking to reporters outside the Lok Bhawan, Sarma said the oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place after May 11.
“As it was a historic win, we have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grace the occasion," he said.
The new Assam chief minister will be selected at a meeting of the BJP legislature party in presence of central observers, Sarma said.
