Iran's Supreme Leader Accuses US, Israel of Sowing 'Division' After Setbacks
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message read at the 37th anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's death, accused the US and Israel of trying to sow 'seeds of division' among the Iranian people after suffering 'decisive blows' in the Middle East war. He called for unity and cohesion to thwart the enemy's plots. This is his first public address since being elected Supreme Leader in March.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 19:42
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(Central News Agency, Tehran, 4th, Combined Foreign Reports) Iran's Supreme Leader today criticized the United States and Israel for attempting to sow 'seeds of division' among the Iranian people after suffering 'decisive blows' in the Middle East war.
According to AFP, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message, stated that 'malicious enemies' are trying to 'sow seeds of doubt, despair, fear, mistrust, and division' among the public.
His message stated: 'In the face of these malicious intentions, everyone must thwart their plots through steadfastness, insight, and maintaining unity and cohesion...'
Mojtaba Khamenei's written message was read by a prayer leader at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, on the 37th anniversary of his death.
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 overthrew the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ending the Pahlavi dynasty.
After the first Supreme Leader, Khomeini, died in 1989, Ali Khamenei succeeded him as Supreme Leader until he was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28 of this year.
The US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 and subsequently began peace talks, which have so far failed to reach an agreement.
Since 1989, Khamenei had given a speech at the commemoration ceremony every year on June 4. According to live-streamed video, an empty chair with his portrait was placed at the ceremony this year.
Since being elected Supreme Leader in March, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, only addressing the Iranian people through written statements.
According to the live-streamed video, portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei and the two previous Supreme Leaders were displayed inside the mausoleum in southern Tehran.
Attendees waved Iranian flags and banners of the Iran-backed Lebanese political and military organization Hezbollah. (Editor: Liu Shuqin) 1150604
According to AFP, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message, stated that 'malicious enemies' are trying to 'sow seeds of doubt, despair, fear, mistrust, and division' among the public.
His message stated: 'In the face of these malicious intentions, everyone must thwart their plots through steadfastness, insight, and maintaining unity and cohesion...'
Mojtaba Khamenei's written message was read by a prayer leader at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, on the 37th anniversary of his death.
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 overthrew the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ending the Pahlavi dynasty.
After the first Supreme Leader, Khomeini, died in 1989, Ali Khamenei succeeded him as Supreme Leader until he was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28 of this year.
The US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 and subsequently began peace talks, which have so far failed to reach an agreement.
Since 1989, Khamenei had given a speech at the commemoration ceremony every year on June 4. According to live-streamed video, an empty chair with his portrait was placed at the ceremony this year.
Since being elected Supreme Leader in March, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, only addressing the Iranian people through written statements.
According to the live-streamed video, portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei and the two previous Supreme Leaders were displayed inside the mausoleum in southern Tehran.
Attendees waved Iranian flags and banners of the Iran-backed Lebanese political and military organization Hezbollah. (Editor: Liu Shuqin) 1150604