Mojtaba Khamenei backs Hezbollah, ties US-Iran peace to Lebanon ceasefire

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has said Tehran considers the defence of Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters a “strategic mandate” and called for the “absolute, unconditional termination” of Israeli aggression against Lebanon as a condition for any agreement to end the war with the US.In a post on X, Khamenei responded to a letter of allegiance from Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem and the group's fighters, praising their “patience, nobility and self-sacrifice” and describing Hezbollah as an “unyielding rock” at the forefront of resistance against Israel.“There remains no path forward except jihad and resistance,” Khamenei said, arguing that continued resistance would ultimately bring what he described as divine victory to those fighting for the cause of truth. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on X Khamenei said the Islamic Republic of Iran viewed the protection of Hezbollah and Lebanon's territorial integrity as a strategic responsibility.