Iran's supreme leader justifies rocket strike on Israel as 'self-defense'

By Ahmet Dursun, Basar Bayatli and Muhammed Kilic

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the missile attack his country launched on Israel on Oct. 1 was in “self-defense.”

Khamenei made the comments during a Friday sermon in Tehran, marking his first public address in four years.

Before the prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque, attended by tens of thousands of people and top political and military officials, a memorial was held for Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Sept. 27.

During his address, Khamenei stressed Iran would not hesitate to retaliate against any future Israeli counterattacks, emphasizing that the response would be swift.

Referring to Hamas' Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Khamenei said the Palestinian strikes were “completely legitimate.”

In retaliation for Israel's assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and massacres in Gaza and Lebanon, Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel last Tuesday evening.

The attack caused both injuries and property damage and led to the closure of Israel's airspace as millions sought shelter in bunkers.

Israel assassinated Nasrallah and others in an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sept. 27. Haniyeh was killed during a strike on his residence while visiting Tehran in late July.

Iran cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which “affirms the right of member states to use force in self-defense if subjected to an armed attack,” as the legal basis for its retaliatory strike.

In response, Israel's military and political leaders vowed a significant military retaliation. Some Israeli officials have called for strikes on Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities.

Iran, in turn, has warned that it would launch a “broad and comprehensive” attack on Israel’s infrastructure if provoked further.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio​​​​​​​