Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei鈥檚 speech targets both domestic and regional audiences, especially the Muslim world, top sources told News18.
In his first public statement after the end of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Khamenei warned the US that it will pay a 鈥渉eavy price鈥 if it attacks his country again. He said Iran has 鈥渁ccess to key US centres鈥 in the region.
Khamenei, who took shelter in a secret location during the 12-day war, said Iran achieved victory over Israel. Israeli forces pounded Tehran before the US intervened on its behalf.
AIMED AT 鈥楳OSQUE NARRATIVE鈥
The top sources told News18 that this is a strategic communication effort controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and suggests that, despite setbacks, Iran remains resilient in its nuclear capabilities.
The sources said the speech aims to influence the mosque narrative and shed a positive light on the leadership, as it was delivered a day before Friday prayers. Khamenei presents Iran鈥檚 survival and the ceasefire as a decisive victory over Israel, overlooking the country鈥檚 successful interception of Iranian missiles, they said.
They further said his claims are intended to bolster the domestic morale after a period of decline, positioning Iran as the regional leader of resistance against Israel. His assertion that the US intervened to prevent Israel鈥檚 complete destruction aims to amplify Iran鈥檚 perceived military threat, portraying the US as weak and reactive, they added.
BUT, WHAT IS THE OTHER SIDE?
The sources, however, said Iran鈥檚 most significant challenges are internal. The war has been marked by the loss of key elite figures during and after confrontations, they said.
They said several top commanders of the IRGC Aerospace Force, including strategic planners within the Quds Force, were reportedly killed by Israeli airstrikes or precision attacks. This includes General Razi Hemmati, the architect of Iran鈥檚 long-range missile doctrine, and Brigadier-General Parviz Bahrami, a senior commander in drone operations.
Additionally, nuclear scientist Dr Shahram Aliyari, overseeing advanced enrichment technologies, died under mysterious circumstances. These targeted eliminations have severely impacted Iran鈥檚 long-term military planning, they added.