New Delhi: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern warning against any form of retreat in the wake of the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“Any non-tactical retreat — be it military, political, or economic —invites ‘divine wrath’ as per the Holy Quran,” he said as reported by Iran International television.
Khamenei condemned the “enemy psychological warfare” which, according to him, is aimed at pressuring Iran to reconsider possible retaliatory plans against Israel.
“Governments that yield to the demands of today’s dominant powers, regardless of their nation’s size or strength, can defy these pressures if they draw on the strength of their people and accurately assess their adversaries’ true capabilities,” the 86-year-old leader said.
Khameini criticised the age-old tendency to exaggerate the power of enemies, citing historical examples of Americans, British and Israeli attempts to undermine Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“Governments that yield to the demands of today’s dominant powers, regardless of the size or strength of the nations they represent, could defy these pressures if they draw on the strength of their people and accurately assess their adversaries’ true, unembellished capabilities,” Iran’s supreme leader said.
Haniyeh was killed while attending the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 31.
Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s killing.
Earlier this month, Khamenei had ordered a direct strike on Israel following Haniyeh’s killing.
Iran has thus far refrained from any retaliatory act, though Iranian officials have dismissed Western calls for restraint.
