Skip to main content

Khamenei warns of 'soft war' between Iran, US

After the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned Hezbollah and Iran, Iran's supreme leader has indirectly criticized Saudi Arabia and called the condemnation meaningless.
Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad bin Amin Madani, Foreign Ministers Sameh Shoukry of Egypt (2nd R) and Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey (R) are seen during the opening session of the OIC Istanbul Summit in Istanbul, Turkey April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Sebnem Coskun/Pool - RTX29X4Z

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended Lebanese group Hezbollah after it was condemned in the closing statement of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul.

During a speech to the Islamic Students Association April 19, Khamenei said, “See what they did against the devout youth in Palestine and Lebanon? How many real and propaganda threats have they made against Hezbollah of Lebanon? Yet Hezbollah of Lebanon is showing its brave [face] in the world of Islam.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.