Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP
Middle East tensions escalate as Ayatollah Ali KhameneiIranian supreme leader, launched this Saturday, November 2, an unequivocal warning against Israel and the United States. Facing an audience of students gathered in Tehran, the Iranian leader promised a firm response to any hostile action targeting his country or its regional allies.
This statement comes in a particularly tense context since the Israeli strikes on October 26 on Iranian territory, an operation presented as retaliation for the Iranian missile launches of October 1. For the first time in its history, the Israeli army publicly admitted to having targeted military installations in Iran, including missile manufacturing sites. If Tehran minimized the impact of these strikes, the country nevertheless deplored five victims.
The timing of this speech is not insignificant, occurring a few days before the commemoration of the storming of the American embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, an event which resulted in a 444-day hostage crisis. Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final say on strategic decisions in Iran, highlighted his country’s military, political and arms preparation in the face of potential threats.
The regional situation has deteriorated considerably since the start of the conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, involving not only Israel but also Iran and its regional allies, including Lebanese Hezbollah. In response to this escalation, Washington announced on Friday new military deployments in the Middle East, planned for the coming months, officially to ensure the defense of Israel and to send a clear message to Iran.
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