Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected claims that Iran relies on proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas to exert influence in the region, asserting that these groups act independently based on their faith and ideological commitments.
Speaking on Sunday to a gathering of eulogists at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, Khamenei dismissed accusations of Iranian command over these groups. “They keep saying that the Islamic Republic has lost its proxies in the region. This is another falsehood. The Islamic Republic does not have proxies,” he declared.
Khamenei emphasized the independence of movements like Yemen’s Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, attributing their actions to personal and collective faith rather than Iranian directives. “Yemen is fighting because of its faith. Hezbollah fights because its faith-driven power brings it to the battlefield. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fight because their beliefs make them do so,” he explained.
In a defiant tone, the Supreme Leader stressed Iran’s capacity for direct military action if deemed necessary. “If we ever decide to act, we do not need proxies,” Khamenei stated, signaling Iran’s readiness to engage militarily without reliance on allied groups.
The remarks come amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing international scrutiny over Iran’s regional activities. Critics, particularly in the West, have frequently accused Iran of supporting armed groups to destabilize the region. Khamenei’s statement seeks to counter this narrative by highlighting the ideological motivations of these groups.
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