Iran's Supreme Leader Urges People to Unite Amid Uncertainty of War

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on Iranians to face the war against the United States and Israel with national unity. The speech was made in a long statement written for the tributes on the day of the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic.

"When confronting these hostile plans, all members of society must respond with firmness, clarity of vision, preservation of unity and cohesion, mutual trust and refusing to repeat the enemy's narrative," Khamenei said.

"By doing so, they will be able to neutralize their malicious objectives," he added.

Amid the war, Khamenei has yet to make public appearances as supreme leader. Instead, statements attributed to the 56-year-old cleric have been read on national television or posted on social media.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he believes Khamenei is alive and "increasingly participative."

"I think there are indications that he is becoming increasingly involved at some level," Rubio commented to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

CNN reported that American intelligence assesses that Khamenei is playing a crucial role in defining war strategy, along with other Iranian officials.

Iranians call for revenge against the US
Thousands of Iranians gathered at the Imam Khomeini shrine, in the south of Tehran, this Thursday morning (4) to mark the date of the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which occurred 37 years ago.

Many people also called for revenge against the United States.

Some of those present waved red flags with the word "revenge" written on them, while others carried photos of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - Khomeini's successor - who was killed in an airstrike on February 28, when the war between the US and Israel began.

People at the shrine CNN spoke to Thursday morning said they were skeptical of efforts for a peace deal with the U.S. and instead wanted their leaders to take revenge for Khamenei's death.

*Editor's note: CNN operates in Iran only with government permission but maintains full editorial control over its reporting

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Source: CNN