Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has accused the United States and Israel of attempting to fracture Iran’s internal cohesion following what he described as their defeat in the recent Middle East conflict.
In a written statement delivered on Thursday and read aloud at a ceremony in Tehran, Khamenei said external forces were actively working to “spread doubt, fear, mistrust and division” among Iranians in the aftermath of the war.
The message was delivered during commemorations marking the 37th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at his mausoleum, where crowds gathered in southern Tehran waving national flags and displaying banners of allied groups, including Hezbollah.
Khamenei urged national unity and ideological resilience, insisting that Iran must remain alert to what he called coordinated psychological and political pressure from its adversaries.
“The malicious enemy is seeking to plant seeds of doubt, despair, fear, mistrust and division,” his message stated, calling on citizens to respond with “steadfastness, insight, and cohesion” in order to neutralise such efforts.
The ceremony also highlighted shifts within Iran’s leadership structure. An empty chair bearing the portrait of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was displayed prominently, reflecting his absence from the annual address that has traditionally marked the occasion since 1989.
Ali Khamenei had led Iran for decades after succeeding Khomeini, and his speeches on this date were long considered a key fixture in the Islamic Republic’s political calendar.
His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the top leadership role following internal selection earlier this year, has largely avoided public appearances, instead communicating through written statements and limited official messages.
Analysts say the tone of this year’s commemoration reflects both external tensions following months of regional conflict and internal efforts by Tehran to reinforce unity at a politically sensitive moment.
Although a ceasefire reached in early April brought an end to active fighting between Iran and Israel-backed forces, broader negotiations aimed at a lasting settlement remain stalled.
Iranian officials continue to insist that any comprehensive diplomatic agreement must address wider regional hostilities, particularly in Lebanon, where Hezbollah remains engaged in sporadic clashes with Israel in solidarity with Tehran.
The latest remarks underscore Iran’s continuing effort to frame post-war challenges as part of a broader struggle against foreign influence, while urging citizens to resist narratives seen as threatening national cohesion.
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