Iran's Supreme Leader Declares Victory Over US and Israel in Nowruz Address
In a significant written message marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei asserted a decisive victory against the United States and Israel. Delivered on Friday, the message emphasized the creation of a particular unity among Iranians despite diverse religious, intellectual, cultural, and political backgrounds.
Khamenei's Assertion of Enemy Defeat
"At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots -- despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins -- the enemy has been defeated," Khamenei stated. He further elaborated that US and Israeli attacks were predicated on an illusion that eliminating top leaders would lead to governmental overthrow, as reported by AP.
Khamenei accused the "Zionist enemy" of orchestrating a scheme to foster divisions among regional nations, specifically referencing attacks in Turkey and Oman. "We share with neighboring countries the creed, the interests, and the confrontation against the forces of global arrogance," he affirmed, highlighting a shared stance against perceived external pressures.
Commendation of National Defense Efforts
The Supreme Leader praised Iranian citizens for establishing a nationwide defensive front, constructing strongholds across cities, neighborhoods, and mosques. He claimed this effort delivered a bewildering blow that caused the enemy to fall into contradictions and irrational statements, reinforcing his victory narrative.
Context of Leadership and Conflict
Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after the latter was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike at the war's onset, has yet to make a public appearance. Earlier on Nowruz, Iran released a video showing Khamenei teaching religious studies to students, possibly aimed at bolstering his public image.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in substantial casualties:
- In Iran, over 1,300 people have been killed since hostilities began.
- Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have left more than 1,000 dead and displaced over a million individuals, according to official estimates.
- In Israel, at least 15 people have died due to Iranian missile attacks.
- The United States has reported the deaths of at least 13 military personnel in the continuing hostilities.
This Nowruz message underscores Iran's defiant stance amid regional tensions, with Khamenei leveraging the occasion to project strength and unity against adversaries.
