Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged continued support for the resistance against the United States and Israel in a message to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, while also acknowledging condolences over the death of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.In a formal letter, Khamenei thanked Qassem for his sympathy following the “martyrdom” of Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28. He noted the “feelings of love and loyalty” expressed by Hezbollah fighters, adding that these sentiments were conveyed “on their own behalf,” reflecting commitment to the resistance movement.
Khamenei said steadfastness in the face of “the fiercest enemies of the Islamic Ummah, namely the United States and the Zionist entity,” was a defining trait of the late leader. He added that the continuation of the resistance path, alongside sacrifices, demonstrated “the authenticity of this approach.”Addressing Qassem, Khamenei said he was leading Hezbollah at a “critical juncture in the history of the resistance,” expressing confidence in his “wisdom, intelligence, and courage to thwart and crush the schemes of the Zionist enemy, and restore pride and prosperity to the Lebanese people.” The message, reported by Iranian media including Fars news agency, reiterated Tehran’s backing for regional resistance groups amid escalating tensions with the US and Israel.Khamenei, who was appointed Supreme Leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts on March 8, also praised Hezbollah’s leadership and fighters for their “fights, bravery and sacrifices,” reinforcing Iran’s long-standing alliance with the group.Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck an Israeli-linked container ship in the Persian Gulf using ballistic missiles as part of a new wave of attacks targeting US and Israeli interests. The IRGC also warned companies it accused of involvement in “terrorist espionage,” naming major US technology firms and urging evacuations around such sites.The force further claimed it had launched drone attacks on “important and strategic” communication, telecommunication and industrial centres affiliated with the Israeli military.In a parallel development, Iran executed two “armed terrorists” linked to the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization for alleged involvement in operations in Tehran aimed at destabilising the government.Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed reports that Iran fired a missile toward Türkiye as “completely baseless.”
