Israel 'won't last long', warns Iran's supreme leader Khamenei

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a rare Friday sermon, said that Israel "won't last long".

Extending strong support for Palestinian and Lebanese groups fighting Israel, he called missile strikes on Israel a "public service".

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Khamenei declared Israel would ultimately fail against Hamas and Hezbollah, as the crowd, numbering thousands, chanted in solidarity. He praised Hassan Nasrallah, the recently killed Hezbollah leader, and urged Muslims to support Lebanon's resistance. Khamenei accused Israel of being a tool for U.S. control in the region, claiming it had no stability without American support.

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"Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is no longer with us, but his spirit and his path will continue to inspire us forever. He was the high-standing flag against the Zionist enemy. His martyrdom will further increase this influence. The loss of Nasrallah is not in vain. We must stand up against the enemy while strengthening our unwavering faith," Khamenei said.

"It is the duty and responsibility of all Muslims to help the blooded people of Lebanon and to support Lebanon's jihad and the battle for al-Aqsa mosque. No international law has the right to object and protest against the Lebanese and Palestinians for standing up for themselves against the occupation," he added.

He called Israel a "tool" for the US to "take control" of all the land and resources in the region. "There is no doubt that the Zionists and the Americans are dreaming – the Zionist entity will be uprooted from the ground, it has no roots, it is fake, unstable, and exists only because of American support."

It was his first Friday sermon in five years, following Iran's missile attacks on Israel earlier that week.