Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged continued support for resistance against the United States and Israel in a message to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassim, while also expressing condolences over the death of his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.In a formal letter, Khamenei thanked Qassem for his sympathy following the “martyrdom” of Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on 28 February. He noted the “feelings of love and loyalty” expressed by Hezbollah fighters, and said that these sentiments were expressed “on their behalf”, reflecting commitment to the resistance movement.Khamenei said that steadfastness in the face of “the most staunch enemies of the Islamic Ummah, namely the United States and the Zionist entity” was a defining characteristic of the late leader. He said that the sacrifices as well as the continuity of the resistance path demonstrated “the authenticity of this approach”.Addressing Qassim, Khamenei said he was leading Hezbollah at “a turning point in the history of resistance”, expressing confidence in his “wisdom, intelligence and courage” to thwart and crush the plans of the Zionist enemy and restore pride and prosperity to the Lebanese people.The message, reported by Iranian media including Fars news agency, reiterated Tehran’s support for regional resistance groups amid rising tensions with the US and Israel.Khamenei, who was appointed supreme leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts on March 8, praised Hezbollah’s leadership and fighters for their “fight, bravery and sacrifice”, strengthening Iran’s long-standing alliance with the group.Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had attacked a container ship linked to Israel in the Persian Gulf using ballistic missiles as part of a new wave of attacks targeting US and Israeli interests. The IRGC also warned companies it accused of engaging in “terrorist espionage”, naming major US technology firms and urging evacuation around such sites.The force further claimed that it had carried out drone strikes on “vital and strategic” communications, telecommunications and industrial centers affiliated with the Israeli military.In a parallel development, Iran executed two “armed terrorists” linked to the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization for alleged involvement in operations in Tehran aimed at destabilizing the government.Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi rejected reports that Iran had fired a missile toward Turkiye, calling them “completely baseless.”
