Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with acting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and two other leaders of the Palestinian group in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian state TV reported.
“You defeated the Zionist regime [Israel], which was in fact America’s defeat,” Khamenei, whose country supports Hamas in its war with Israel, told the Palestinian delegation. “You did not allow them to achieve any of their goals.”
Iranian Revolution
Iranian TV said the Palestinian leaders were in Tehran to congratulate Khamenei on the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution. They expressed gratitude for Iran’s continued support.
The delegation, which also included Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas’ leadership council, and top Hamas official Nizar Awadallah, presented Khamenei a report on the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and “the victories and successes that were achieved”.
“We come to meet with you today with pride,” the TV quoted al-Hayya as telling Khamenei.
Khamenei said US threats against Iran “have no effect on the mindset of our nation,” the Iranian media said.
Khamenei On US Ties
Khamenei’s recent remarks about the US contradict his own earlier remarks in August that opened the door to talks.
On Friday, in a statement reported by Associated Press, Khamenei also said that negotiations with America “are not intelligent, wise or honourable”.
He further said that “there should be no negotiations with such a government”, however, did not issue a direct order not to engage with the US. These statements came in after President Donald Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
At an Iranian Air Force event in Tehran, as reported in the Times of Israel, Khamenei said, “The Americans sit, redrawing the map of the world—but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality.” He said Americans “make statements about us, express opinions, and issue threats.”
He has warned of threatening in return if America threatens Iran and acting on it if America does. “If they violate the security of our nation, we will, without a doubt, respond in kind” he added.
(with inputs from Reuters)
