Iran's Khamenei Backs Hezbollah, Calls for Continued Jihad Against Israel

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told Hezbollah that Iran regards defending the group as a “strategic mandate” and praised its fighters’ “jihad and resistance.” In a letter responding to Hezbollah’s pledge of allegiance, he called the group an “unyielding rock” and said jihad and resistance were the only path against Israel and the United States. Khamenei made an unconditional end to Israeli operations in Lebanon and preservation of Lebanese territorial integrity Iran’s main conditions for any agreement ending the conflict. His statement directly opposes the Israel-Lebanon framework, which links an Israeli withdrawal to Lebanese army control and Hezbollah’s disarmament.