Khamenei responds to Israel Katz: Iran will reach 'height of progress' despite threats

A day after the Israeli defence minister repeated his threat to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the latter made another public appearance on Monday, where he proclaimed that the regime would elevate Iran to the height of progress and pride.

Khamenei was speaking at the ceremony held to mark the 40th day after the deaths of Iranian military commanders and scientists killed during a recent 12-day conflict with Israel. He said the nuclear issues, uranium enrichment, and human rights were just excuses to attack Iran. “Their real problem is Iran’s religion, knowledge, and national unity under the banner of Islam and the Quran,” he added.

The Supreme Leader said he would not abandon its twin foundations of “religion and knowledge” despite mounting international pressure. “The world has now seen the full capability of the Islamic Republic up close,” he said. “These events are not new for us. For 46 years, many such incidents have occurred in the country. Our enemies incited an eight-year war, carried out sedition, incited weak elements against the nation, and coup. The Islamic Republic overcame all of these," the Supreme Leader said.

His statement comes as Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, threatened again to renew attacks on Iran and assassinate Khamenei. “I want to send a clear message from here to dictator Khamenei: If you continue to threaten Israel, our long arm will reach Tehran again with even greater power - and this time personally to you too,” the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted Katz as saying during a visit to Ramon Air Force Base in southern Israel.

 

 

Middle East