Iran: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Calls for Muslim Unity Against “Enemies of Islam”

TEHRAN — Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on Sunday, August 30, for Muslim nations across the region to unite against the United States and Israel, in a written message issued six months after the start of the Middle East war.
Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader on February 28, immediately after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed at the outset of the war. He has remained out of public view since then, and Iranian authorities have yet to release any video or audio recording of the new Supreme Leader.
In his Sunday message, issued to mark the occasion Shia Muslims observe as the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Khamenei emphasized the importance of unity among Islamic nations, stating: “The solution to the problems of Islamic countries lies in unity of word, brotherhood, and cooperation on the path of righteousness. Anyone, in any position, who sows discord among Muslims and creates conflict within Muslim society — whether knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally — has served the purpose of the enemies of Islam.”
Khamenei also urged rulers of regional countries to identify the “true enemy” and resist its strategy, saying: “Recognize your real enemy, understand its plan, and confront it” — a clear reference to the United States and Israel.
During the recent conflict, Iran carried out attacks on US military bases and installations across the Middle East, including sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. These strikes contributed to strained relations between Tehran and several of these countries, further escalating regional tensions.
Khamenei, who holds final authority over Iran’s major state policies, also called for greater unity between Iranian officials and the public, urging them to set aside internal differences while confronting Israel and the United States. He said: “Once again, my advice to the Iranian people is that they must not allow any kind of division to arise among themselves. I firmly declare that any act that harms social cohesion is forbidden.”
In the same message, Khamenei also called for the gradual de-dollarization of Iran’s economy and emphasized boosting domestic production to strengthen economic growth. His economic message comes as Iran continues to grapple with the effects of years of US sanctions, compounded by economic pressure from a months-long US naval blockade that has placed further strain on livelihoods and economic activity across the country.